Manning Rotary Club members learned how a simple bag of snacks can help change a child’s weekend — and potentially their success in the classroom — during the club’s Feb. 4 meeting, when Snak Kits Director Allen Glass spoke about the nonprofit’s mission to combat food insecurity among Clarendon County students.
Glass, pastor of Home Branch Baptist Church and founder of Snak Kits, explained how the program provides nutritious snack bags to school-aged children who may not have reliable access to food outside of school meals.
“Compassion isn’t measured by good intentions, but whether or not someone’s basic needs are met,” Glass told Rotary members. “Our goal is simple — decrease hunger and increase learning.”
Snak Kits began about six years ago as a small effort at Home Branch Baptist Church, initially delivering about 20 snack bags weekly to local elementary schools. Today, the program serves about 350 children each week across Manning Elementary, Manning Early Childhood Center, Walker-Gamble Elementary and Dr. Rose Wilder Elementary School, which was added this school year.
Glass said the program addresses a critical gap between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, when school breakfast and lunch programs are unavailable. All Clarendon County schools qualify as Title I schools, meaning meals are provided during the school week, but weekends can present challenges for families struggling financially.
“If you’re hungry, you’re not thinking about what two plus two is,” Glass said. “You’re thinking about how to get something to eat.”
Each Snak Kit contains nine to 10 food items, including high-protein and easy-to-open snacks such as beef sticks, peanut butter, crackers and cereal. Glass said items are carefully selected to be shelf-stable and child-friendly, recognizing that some households may lack electricity, microwaves or can openers.
The nonprofit works closely with school staff, including teachers, bus drivers and guidance counselors, who help identify students showing signs of food insecurity. The program operates anonymously, with schools providing bag counts rather than student names.
According to data shared during the presentation, roughly one in four children in Clarendon County is estimated to experience food insecurity. Glass shared an example of a student who showed improvement after receiving Snak Kits, particularly on Mondays.
“The teacher noticed the child had more energy and focus,” Glass said. “It relieved one of the burdens that child was carrying.”
Glass emphasized that Snak Kits operates as a student support program, focusing specifically on helping children remain prepared to learn. The nonprofit relies heavily on volunteers and financial donations, with each bag costing approximately $5.90 to produce. Glass said all donations go directly toward food and program operations, with leadership serving in volunteer roles.
Following the Rotary presentation, club members joined church volunteers and Laurence Manning Academy’s Anchor Club students later that evening at Home Branch Baptist Church to pack Snak Kits. Volunteers formed assembly lines to fill bags with snacks, helping supply food for hundreds of children.
“The program works because the community chooses to show up,” Glass said. “We make a difference one bag, one child, every weekend.”
Both the Manning Rotary Club and The Manning Times presented monetary donations to support Snak Kits, in addition to volunteering at the packing event.
Snak Kits hosts volunteer packing events on the first Wednesday of every month from 6p.m. until 7p.m. at Home Branch Baptist Church on Home Branch Road near Manning. When needed, a second packing event may be scheduled within the same month. Community members, churches, civic groups and businesses are encouraged to participate.
For more information about volunteering or donating, contact Snak Kits at 803-983-3883 or email snakkit4schools@gmail.com.
