It's been a constant request at the Greater Boston Food Bank, representatives said. Of the 16,000 volunteers it welcomes annually - requisite age: 16 - many have yearned to get their younger children involved.
"Every year we receive many requests for volunteer opportunities for younger kids," said Catherine D'Amato, the food bank's president. But because of heavy lifting and warehouse conditions, younger teens and children have been barred from participation.
Now they have a chance.
"We have been able to design and launch a program geared to give kids and their families a meaningful, safe, and fun experience," D'Amato said, "to help them understand that everyone has a role in ending hunger."
With $120,000 from Putnam Investments, which has donated to the food bank before and has held employee volunteer events there, the agency is preparing the debut of its Kids Who Care Program for children ages 10 to 15.
The children, accompanied by adults, will pack "brown bags" - actually 12- to 15-pound sacks full of nutritious foods - that will be distributed to families and seniors throughout Boston and its suburbs.
On the whole, the food bank distributes 30 million pounds of food each year. According to the food bank, each two-hour session of the Kids Who Care Program will send out about 5,000 more pounds.
For Norma Wyse of Lexington, the new initiative is already inspiring her son, Geoff Ramseyer, to do more. After participating in a trial run last spring, the 12-year-old organized his own drive and gathered 450 pounds of food.
The food bank will premiere the Kids Who Care Program during Boston public school vacation on Feb. 20 and 21. Call 617-427-5200.
MARC LAROCQUE
