Sharif’s story was shared by the caring staff of Roxbury Elementary School.

Sharif worried way more than most kids his age, especially about his parents. Notably, his anxieties often centered around food. Sharif would ask teachers for food because his family did not have the money to buy snacks he saw other students enjoying.

Fortunately, Sharif was part of the free lunch program, which also entitled him to receive a free hot breakfast each morning. And when Filling in the Blanks Weekend Meal Bag program became available, he was the first to enroll.

Before the first distribution, Sharif double- and triple-checked that he was “on the list.” Then, on the big day, he stopped by the office to ask what time “it was happening.” In this regard, Sharif is not unlike other students enrolled in the program—each Friday is a special day for them!

Fast forward a couple of months and something unexpected and quite wonderful happened. Sharif became noticeably calmer. He stopped fretting about all kinds of things, from school to friends to his parents’ health. The program didn’t merely satisfy Sharif’s nutritional needs, it was a balm to his emotional needs too.

Never doubt that removing one small worry from a child’s life can be profound. And you have the power to do that today. Your gift could provide the relief another local child has been waiting for.