You may be surprised to learn that there are hungry school children right here in Princeton. But it comes as no surprise to Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Judith A. Wilson.

According to the school district, “food insecurity,” which means that there is no guarantee that the next meal will be provided for or that there is a nutritious snack available, can be an issue for as many as 12 percent of all children enrolled in Princeton schools.

In an effort to address this, the school district is joining efforts with the volunteer groups, Princeton Human Services Commission and Mercer Street Friends, and Princeton University.

Their “Send Hunger Packing” initiative not only aims to raise awareness of the situation but to do something to alleviate the problem by raising some $62,000 to cover the cost of providing Friday afternoon food packs for elementary school children who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches to take home with them so that nutritious food will be available to children who might not be eating adequately over the weekends.

“This is an important project that addresses a very basic need in the lives of many of our students,” said Ms. Wilson. “How can we seriously expect the best for children and student achievement if they are hungry?”

Kristin S. Appelget, director of Princeton University’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs, announced last Wednesday that the University will donate $10,000 toward the cost of the new program in Princeton’s four public elementary schools.

In addition to providing financial resources, Princeton University hopes to support the program in other ways, according to Ms. Appelget. “There are great opportunities for our students to take a volunteer role. It’s not just the initial financial resource, which of course is important, but there are other ways we will partner with this program, through the student volunteer corps, and faculty and staff. We already do campus food drives as an institution and have students who work with Mercer Street Friends.”

“I am delighted to celebrate the lead gift from the University,” said Mrs. Wilson “It is such a generous gift, twice what we hoped for and so meaningful for the whole community and it makes us realize once again the impact the University has in recognizing the social issues and setting very clear and high priorities for what it funds and recognizes.”

The program will begin by providing as many as 215 children at Community Park, Johnson Park, Littlebrook. and Riverside schools in kindergarten to fifth grade with a weekend supply of nutritious snacks and drinks.

A press release on the district’s web site reports that “On any given day, there are families in Princeton who do not have enough food. This hits younger children the hardest because they are dependent on what food might or might not be on hand for each meal. Weekends are particularly tough because children are not in school to receive free or reduced-priced breakfast or lunch.”

Film Fund Raiser

Ms. Wilson also had words of praise for Ross Wishnick and Leticia Fraga Nadler from the Princeton Human Services Commission and Phyllis C. Stoolmacher from Mercer Street Friends for their spearheading of a fundraising drive that will screen the film A Place at the Table, starring Jeff Bridges and Tom Colicchio at the Garden Theatre on Sunday, June 9, at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $50. The goal of $62,000 would fund the cost of the Friday food packs for two school years.

“So far we have raised $19,000 from institutions, individuals, and through our website, which is selling tickets to the event,” said Ross Wishnick of the Princeton Human Services Commission. “It has been amazing and a testament to the fact that people realize this is such a basic need.”

The Send Hunger Packing initiative could have multiple benefits, said Ms. Stoolmacher. “First and foremost it addresses an immediate need to provide food for children who might not be eating adequately over the weekends. It also makes people aware of hunger and the consequences of hunger and ideally aware that we need better public policies to address this issue.”

For more information or to purchase tickets,call (609) 751-7463 or visit: sendhungerpacking.ticketleap.com or www.sendhungerpackingprinceton@mercerstreetfriends.org.