Kirkland Nourishing Network is expanding to help at seven schools in Kirkland as its third year of providing food boxes to needy elementary school children during school breaks begins.

Residents can sign up to bring one or more food boxes here.

School counselors and teachers identify the numbers of the most needy students while maintaining confidentiality. Families of these students receive donated food to help during school breaks when students are not receiving meal support at school or through weekend pantry packs.

Kirkland donors have stepped up to meet the need during the past two years. This Thanksgiving, 180 food boxes are necessary to meet the expanded need at the seven schools.

Based on the success of this appeal, the goal is to continue to expand to all Kirkland elementary schools as soon as possible.

Lynette Apley, PTSA service chair at John Muir Elementary School, is confident that Kirkland has the capacity to meet the growing need. Apley has worked with Kirkland Nourishing Network during the past two years and has coordinated the expansion to other Kirkland schools.

“These are real families, living in our neighborhoods, who don’t have enough to eat,” Lynette said. “The food boxes make an absolute difference.”

“Our community will fill this need if they know about it,” Kirkland City Council member Toby Nixon said, who is another volunteer with the Nourishing Network food-box project. Nixon has worked to get a location and volunteers to support the drop off of food boxes.

For more information, visit www.mysignup.com/thanksgivingfoodboxes.