Northmen Den Youth Pantries is launching this Sandwich Lunch Brigade in partnership with Parkside Deli, Therapy Solutions and Monarch Workforce.

Northmen Den Youth Pantries is adding Concord Academy of Petoskey as its sixth school-based youth pantry to help students eligible for Free Lunch or Reduced Costs. Concord Academy has chosen the name for it’s pantry as Concord Corner.  

Concord Academy is a tuition-free charter school and its building does not have a kitchen. The students must bring their own lunches, and teachers found themselves making sandwiches in their classrooms for students. When NDYP’s board members learned about this, they had to take action. The Concord Corner Sandwich Lunch Brigade is a pilot program that NDYP hopes to expand and provide to even more students. 

“Although we have only been collaborating for such a short time – the impact of your donated resources and time has been huge! Thank you for helping us get the Concord Corner started and providing our first Thursday Sandwich Lunch Brigade to our students – you are feeding kids so they can learn.” 

Dr. Joelle Drader, a counselor at Concord Academy

A sample menu includes: Turkey, Turkey & Cheese, or Cheese; bag of chopped fresh carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, broccoli tidbits; apple sauce or mandarin oranges cup; bag of chips; water; and a homemade cookie.  

Approximately 780 Petoskey and Harbor Springs middle and high school teenagers out of 1700 students are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunches, as determined by family income. As many as 1 out of 3 teens (42%) in our two communities are dealing daily with hunger, according to MISchoolData.org. 

“Hunger hurts growing bodies, developing brains, self-esteem, school success, and future achievements. Hunger just plain HURTS,” said Kathy Petersen, executive director at NDYP. “We can make a difference in a big way for these students by starting a weekly lunch brigade each Thursday, to bring eighty nutritious lunches and snacks to Concord Academy’s most vulnerable Middle and High School students. I am so proud to have four companies and their staff immediately join us to provide a nutritious lunch for our communities’ most deserving and forgotten children. Any amount of donation will help. Each lunch costs around $3.50.” 

NDYP is partnering with Parkside Deli, Therapy Solutions, and Monarch Workforce to bring healthy lunches to these most vulnerable children.  Fletch’s GMC Buick Audi of Petoskey, MI, is also a supporting sponsor.

More about our local partnerships: 

Parkside Deli, located in downtown Petoskey, is a locally owned and operated deli that provides gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods, and catering. The owner, Sarah McDonnell, is excited to provide freshly baked bread and cookies, sliced turkey and ham & cheese, pickle spears, clementine or other fresh fruit, sandwich wrapping, and bags for the weekly lunches. Each lunch will be the same quality as Parkside Deli serves to their patrons. Also provided will be a healthy after-school snack. www.Parksidepetoskey.com

Therapy Solutions and its Monarch Workforce of Petoskey specializes in adult and pediatric neurological rehabilitation for clients in Northern Michigan. The owner, Amy Dubey, has a passion for helping others and is happy to join the Sandwich Lunch Brigade. As a form of fun and therapy, their patients will work with Therapy Solution’s Monarch Workforce patrons to assemble the sandwiches and bags. www.Therapysolutionsot.com 

“Nutrition and food are my loves. When I heard over 60% of students at Concord Academy were eligible for Free Lunch or Reduced Cost, it broke my heart. I had to do more,” Chef Sarah of Parkside Deli.

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For more information about the Concord Sandwich Brigade or the Northmen Den Youth Pantries, Inc., contact Kathy Petersen at 231-622-8044 or [email protected]