KidsPak Offers Weekend Hunger Relief for Students in the Thompson School District

The idea of children facing hunger in Loveland is probably not something that most of us think about, but it doesn't mean it is not real.

According to the Food Bank for Larimer County, 33% of children in Larimer County are struggling with food insecurity. Food insecurity doesn't come without its consequences — when a child is undernourished, they are at a greater risk for serious health, social, and educational problems.

KidsPak is a weekend food program started in 2009 to aid children who are food insecure. It serves students in the Thompson School District community, including Loveland and Berthoud.

Get our free mobile app

Tom and Corrine Carrigan - now of Loveland, formerly of the Bay Area - have such big hearts, that when they saw a need in the community, they knew they needed to act on it. What first started as something to keep them busy during their retirement years now consumes most of their life by running this non-profit program.

"Hungry kids in Loveland? In a big city I could understand that a little more, but not in Loveland. So I think that's what brought me into it and I know that Tom feels the same way," said Corrine in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "I can't imagine any child in our country being hungry. That's not going to happen on my watch."

Each weekend, the non-profit provides bags of nutritious food to children in 39 schools. KidsPak has also teamed up with BeefSticks.org to provide high-quality beef sticks with 8 grams of protein per serving in their food bags.

Parents can ask their child's teacher for a KidsPak bag or pick one up at the Loveland or Berthoud Library. No questions asked.

When Corrine told Tom to say his famous line he told us, "We're always looking for the next hungry child. Tell us where the next hungry child is."

Learn more about KidsPak by listening to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Tom and Corrine Carrigan below.