Li'l Hungry Hearts
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Mar 23, 2015
What do you do when one in four kids in the State of Washington lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table? Well if you are Tammie Enders and Anita Caffee you spring into action. After the winter break in 2009, Tammie spoke to Anita, a parent about a student from her class who was in need of assistance during the break. From this conversation, Li'l Hungry Hearts was born. The organization is designed to help feed hungry school-aged children who are currently on the National School Lunch Program by providing them with a supplemental food for the week-ends and school holidays.
Since that time, Li'l Hungry Hearts has been evolving and gearing up to be more sustainable for the future. After they started out, two other schools joined the effort eventually leading up to all ten schools of our school district and currently helping 145 kids. Confidentially is important for the kids. Li'l Hungry Hearts works under the umbrella of the Lake Stevens Family Center. Anita and Tammie are waiting approval of 501 (c)(3) status for the organization which will alllow them to grow the program beyond its current structure.
Tammie has been a teacher at Glenwood Elementary in Lake Stevens for the past twelve years. She has taught First through Fourth grades and fines her niche' with Fourth graders. She enjoys being part of her students intellectual growth. Anita's son was in her class and she & Tammie became close friends. Anita is a real estate assistant and transaction coordinator for Buck Real Estate In Lake Stevens. When she has some spare time after Li'l Hungry Hearts, working and family, you might find her fishing, crabbing or camping.
Congratulations on a job well done. The community owes you a lot for the time and the effort as well as the caring initiative you have undertaken for these young kids.