For some students, school is not only a place to learn, but also a place where they can eat breakfast and lunch every day.

With nearly two weeks of Christmas break coming up, students may not have access to meals.

Whitefish CARE and Whitefish schools are helping bridge that gap with the Holiday Food Bags for Kids Project.

Now in its fourth year, the Holiday Food Bags program will provide participating students with a bag of food, particularly breakfast and snack items.

The program serves kindergarten through 12th-grade students attending Whitefish public schools, Whitefish Christian Academy and Olney-Bissell School.

Parents or guardians may sign up children by calling Whitefish CARE at 862-8600, extension 447, and leaving a message with the child’s name and grade.

Michelle Kuntz, director of Whitefish CARE, said the group still needs to raise $1,500 to cover costs. The organization has raised about $3,000 so far.

“One of the greatest things about living in this community is that people are so generous,” Kuntz said.

People wishing to make tax-deductible donations to Whitefish CARE may mail checks to 600 E. Second St., Whitefish, MT 59937, attention Whitefish CARE. Any money surpassing the goal would go toward next year’s Holiday Food Bags for Kids Project.

Kuntz estimates about 450 bags will be filled this year, a 30 percent increase from last year. The increase in participation may be a result of the recession.

“We’ve been a couple years into this economy. I have a personal feeling some families have been struggling to get by — and have been getting by — and in another year of struggle families are not able to do it,” Kuntz said.

Volunteers are also needed to pack the bags beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Whitefish. Kuntz expects packing will be an all-day event. People may sign up to volunteer by calling the CARE office.

The packing location is wheelchair-accessible and there are a variety of tasks for different abilities.

Bags will include ingredients for easy-to-make food. The bags will contain peanut butter, bread, instant oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, granola bars and fruit.

“We try to include things kids can fix for themselves at home because, for a lot of them, mom and dad are both working; things that are easy to make, but not pure sugar,” Kuntz said.

Whitefish residents Linda and Charlie Maetzold have been an instrumental part of the program since its start when Linda served on the school board.

Both are coordinating food purchases this year. Charlie Maetzold said they already have finished most of the shopping and have a garage full of food waiting to be packed in the Holiday Food Bags.

“People think of Whitefish as not having any hungry kids; well that’s not true,” Charlie Maetzold said. “There’s a huge need.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].