Nourishing Children In Catoosa (NCIC)

PLEASE VOTE FOR US!!
We have the opportunity to receive a $20,000 grant from Wal-Mart.  This will allow us to expand the program to more children.  Wal-Mart is having a major campaign to bring awareness to the problem of childhood hunger in America.  The campaign will be run during the entire month of April.  As part of that campaign, Wal-Mart is setting up a special Facebook page.  Facebook members will be able to look at many agencies around the country that address the problem of childhood hunger.  You will be able to cast a vote each day for one agency.  The top 60 vote getters will receive a grant for $20,000.  We ask that you vote for us… every day!

is the link: VOTE FOR NCIC!! Please let your Facebook friends and your e-mail contacts know about the contest now and pass along the link.  You will have to accept an app from Wal-mart and then voting only takes a second.  Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Meanwhile, check out and “like” our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NourishingChildrenInCatoosa



Our Mission:
It is the mission of Nourishing Children in Catoosa (NCIC) to provide weekend snack sacks during the school year for school children who are on free or reduced price meals.  How can you help?

1. DONATE MONEY

Make checks payable to Ringgold UMC and mark it for NCIC.

2. DONATE FOOD

We are serving six schools.  We are making at least 1,000 bags a week.  We purchase items from the food bank, Sams Club and local grocers. We will accept SNACK food donations from single item to case donations.  We CANNOT accept: fresh food, except apples and oranges, anything that has to be refrigerated or any liquids or large items.

SUGGESTIONS OF SNACKS -

(ALL snacks must be single servings and INDIVIDUALLY wrapped)

~ Individual cups of fruit, apple sauce and pudding.

~ Peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers and peanuts.

~ Little Debbie snacks, cookies, granola bars, etc.

~ Ramen, Vienna sausage, chili and any other single serving cans of meat or soup.

~ Cups of macaroni & cheese and cereal.

~ Natural fruit rolls, fruit snacks and raisins.

3. DONATE TIME and TALENTS

We need at least 20 people each week that school is in session to set up and fill the bags on Thursday nights.  We meet in the Gym at Ringgold UMC starting around 3:30pm (or as soon as you can get there.)  We want to be efficient so that everyone can go home by 6 PM or earlier.
There are times when this schedule has to shift, so you might want to confirm with Theo or Nan before arrival.  We also need people to deliver the bags to the schools on Friday mornings by 7:45.  We will load bins in your car on Thursday night.  You must be able to unload and carry bins into the school.  Another great way to help is to RECRUIT community organizations and churches to participate in giving and volunteering.

Some more info about what we do & who we serve

Almost 50% of our school age children in Catoosa County, over 5,000 of them, are on free or reduced price meals at school.  We have many children that are living in motels, with extended families or in homeless situations.  Many children’s homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado that hit Ringgold in April of 2011.

In the fall of 2010 NCIC started with one school and served 301 students with snack sacks the first week.  We added three other schools during the school year by serving a limited number of their students.  For the 2011-2012 school year, we have expanded in those three schools and added one more school – so that we are now reaching students in 5 elementary and primary schools across the county.

While we are organized under the umbrella of Ringgold UMC, this is a community wide project.  The church provides storage space and a place to pack the sacks. The support from Ringgold UMC and the entire community has been gratifying.  We have had many families, individuals, churches, businesses, civic clubs and scouts provide money, food, bags and volunteer time.  We meet each Thursday night at the church to prepare the bags and distribute them to the schools on Friday morning.  The schools then put the bags into the children’s back pack to take home for the weekend.  We put seven or more snack type items in each bag.  We now do at least 1,000 bags a week.

If you have other questions about NCIC or want to get involved, feel free to contact us!

THANKS and God bless you,

Theo & Nan Pinkston
706-965-5017
ncc@peoplepc.com

Current News:

March was an exciting month for NCIC.  We received notice of a $12,500 grant from United Way.  Rock Springs UMC came and looked at our program in anticipation of starting a snack sack program in Walker County in the fall.  Two of our schools have payed it forward.  Ringgold Primary collected canned goods for us at their reading night.  Graysville Elementary had a campaign during the month and collected over 1,500 items to go in our snack sacks.  The Heritage High School dance team came and filled our bags.  The Heritage High School Beta Club continues to come and help us.

Thanks to all of our volunteers and donors.  NCIC could not serve six schools and over 1,000 children without your support.  What impact are we making?

~ A 6 year old says she does not want to go to school today.  Her brother tells her it is Friday and snack sack day. She is ready to go.

~ A 10 year old boy is asked what his favorite snack sack item is and he says his blue toothbrush.  I have never had my own toothbrush.  My family shares one. (We put a toothbrush in twice a year.)

~ A mother says thanks because her kids had good food that they could use on the weekend while she has to work.

~ A mother calls on Monday morning to say thank you for the bags.  Her boss could not pay her on Friday and that was all of the food they had for the weekend.

~ A grandmother tells us how excited her four grandchildren are to know they have food for the weekend.

~ One school reported, during their Thanksgiving food drive, they saw a few of their students donating the canned item that had been in the bag the week before. There was a look of pride on the faces of those students who were able to “pass it on.”

~ A special needs student holds his Snack Sack all day on Friday instead of his usual special stuffed animal.

Thanks for making such a beautiful ministry possible!!