CATEC teams up with Emergency Food Network to help students in need

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - The Emergency Food Network is teaming up with the Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center, or CATEC, to help its students during the winter months.

“We want our students to know if there’s a need we are here to support it no matter what,” CATEC School Counselor Adriane Butler said.

This is the fourth year the Emergency Food Network has offered its services to these students.

“We know winter break can be a very challenging time. It’s the holiday season. Families are trying to continue to provide for their families during the holidays, and we know winter break is a two-week session where students may not have access to the food they would normally have at school.”

This partnership helps CATEC students who need a warm meal while out of school for winter break.

“They have been providing our families with non-perishable food items along with some cleaning supplies for families during the winter break season,” Butler said.

These care packages contain some of the basics.

“You might see for example cereal, rice, beans, soup items, maybe some snack items they may need, Butler said. ”Cleaning supplies like laundry detergent, things their family may need during this time.”

Each one contains enough food to feed a family of six during winter break.

Shamim Sisson with the Emergency Food Network says it’s not uncommon at all for families to need an extra hand around this time.

“What CATEC has discovered is what a lot of other educational institutions have, and that is that when young people are not in school, that they there are many who find themselves in a food insecure position,” Sisson said.

Butler says if you are a CATEC student in need of food, don’t be afraid to ask, regardless of your situation.

“We don’t want anyone to feel embarrassed,” Butler said. “There’s not an economic requirement. If there’s a need, we’re not asking questions. We know the families need it and want them to know they can depend on us.”

On Thursday, December 5, the Emergency Food Network will deliver all the bags to CATEC.

If you would like to sign up one of these food bags before December 5, click here.

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