The Livingston community showed extraordinary generosity this holiday season through the annual Snack Pack Drive, an initiative designed to help bridge the gap between school days and holiday breaks. While students are in school, they are guaranteed at least two meals a day. During extended breaks, however, many families face uncertainty about where their next meals will come from.
The Snack Pack Drive aims to ease that stress by providing students with ready-to-eat meals and snacks to help carry them through the holiday break. By ensuring children have access to food when school is not in session, the program offers both nourishment and peace of mind to students and their families.
The Education Project serves students across five public school districts, four public school academies, and Livingston ESA—representing 10 educational institutions throughout Livingston County. Through a partnership with GM Proving Grounds and the generosity of local organizations and community members, Livingston Educational Service Agency collected an impressive 10,600 snacks this year.
With those donations, Livingston County McKinney-Vento liaisons, GM Proving Ground staff and other community volunteers worked together to assemble 500 individual snack packs. As a result, 500 students experiencing financial hardship or homelessness will have increased food security during the holiday break.
The Snack Pack Drive was the final effort in what has been an exceptionally impactful holiday season for Candice Olrich and Livingston ESA’s Education Project. The season began with Thanksgiving, when 180 individuals were served a complete Thanksgiving meal. It continued with the Education Project Christmas Program, which provided gifts to 131 people. The holiday efforts concluded with the Snack Pack Drive, ensuring 500 students have access to food while school is out.
Together, these initiatives highlight the power of community partnership and generosity—and the lasting impact it can have on students and families during the most critical times of the year.