Share: 

Lewes State Farm agent helps Pathways to Success with food program

September 14, 2019

It all began months ago, at a meeting at the Pathways to Success office in Georgetown. Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm agent in Lewes, had arranged a meeting with Executive Director Fay Blake and Outreach Coordinator Sarah Gilmour to discuss the mission and vision of Pathways to Success.    

During the conversation, O’Donnell was taken aback that some of the Pathways to Success students come to school without having had breakfast, and may not have the ability to purchase lunch.  Some of the underserved students attend schools that are not eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows the school to serve breakfast and lunch to all students.  This creates the very real situation for many students to potentially go all day without eating.    

O’Donnell decided that day she was going to do something about it by creating Snacks for Success. During the month of August, she accepted snacks at her office, and encouraged other businesses to do the same. Nassau Valley Vineyards owner Peggy Raley Ward was one of those businesses. In addition to accepting snacks at her business, Dr. Uday Jani promoted it by mentioning he would be accepting snacks at his talk at Nassau Valley Vineyards. Several of the attendees brought snacks. Other businesses that came on board were Germaine Life, RF Book and Associates, and Tidewater Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Associates.

Blake said: “We cannot thank Jeanine enough for helping the Pathways to Success youth through this project. It is so important for students to have nourishment to reach success in school. Thanks to all of the other small businesses and individuals that contributed.  It takes a village and we truly have a caring community!”

O’Donnell said: “It was my pleasure to help Pathways to Success youth. There is another Snacks for Success planned for January 2020. We hope even more businesses will help the Pathways to Success youth.”

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter