One of our missions at MATTER focuses on educating and encouraging kids on the importance of healthy eating. To accomplish this mission, we connect with kids in schools, community centers, and sports camps. This summer, our MATTERbox snack packs are hitching a ride on Scott County Library’s Readmobile and heading into communities and parks to engage kids with healthy food while they enjoy the reading and learning activities in the Readmobile!
MATTER is excited about this partnership, which will reach over a thousand children this summer. Ally Addison, Learning and Outreach Specialist for Scott County Library, explains the collaborative impact MATTER and the Readmobile will make together.
“The Readmobile strives to help Scott County kids and families prepare for a lifetime of success by providing access to books, activities, and community resources. But before we can fill minds with a love of reading and school readiness skills, we need to fill bellies. Our partnership with MATTER provides nutritious, filling snacks that encourage healthy eating habits.”
MATTERbox snack packs are a healthy alternative to much of the empty-calorie snacks that kids typically turn to when hungry. They also fill the meal gap often experienced by kids during the summer. With more than 300,000 children across Minnesota receiving free or reduced lunch during the school year, the summer months can be a time of real food insecurity for them.
That’s why MATTER is teaming up with 5 Eyewitness News Summer Harvest for Kids to provide children across Minnesota with access to healthy meals and nutritious snacks throughout the summer.
To pack the thousands of MATTERbox meal kits and snack packs that will be distributed in the coming months, MATTER is gearing up the 5th annual MATTERbox Madness packing tournament on May 30th at Mall of America. This fun, high-energy event pits teams from different companies against each other in a spirited, bracket-style competition to see which team can pack MATTERboxes in the shortest amount of time.
At the end of the tournament, trophies are given, pictures are taken and everyone leaves the event exhausted but thrilled to be part of this unique opportunity to provide healthy meals and snacks for kids across Minnesota. And this year that will include the kids visiting the Readmobile in Scott County!
There is still time for your company to participate and help activate healthy eating in our communities. Please contact Tyler@matter.ngo if you’d like to participate!
Photos courtesy of KSTP/Jim O’Connell
