During the school week, students have access to free and reduced-price school meals, but those options are not available during the weekend.

The Food 4 Kids program, a nonprofit established in 2011, supplies elementary and middle school students in the Seaside School District with supplemental weekend meals during the school year.

Linda and Robert Bjornstad are among the volunteers in the Food 4 Kids program, delivering nutritious meals to Seaside students on weekends.

“It’s hard to think there are kids that don’t get food,” Linda Bjornstad said.

Staff smile and say thanks when the Bjornstads walk down the hall distributing the weekend meals. “They know the need,” Rob Bjornstad said. “The principals are all friendly and supportive.”

Before the pandemic, Bjornstad said, the program served 135 students weekly, but now reach only 35 students weekly.

“Community support is strong, and our financial situation would allow us to serve many more families,” Rob Bjornstad said. “Food 4 Kids has a board of directors and a loyal group of volunteers. We simply need more people to sign up.

“There are many more that would qualify; however, we have had difficulty convincing parents to sign up for the program.”

The Bjornstads retired to Seaside five years ago from the Salem area. Rob Bjornstad, a former Lutheran pastor, made the volunteer connection at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Seaside.

Food comes from food banks in Astoria and Seaside. Formerly delivered in backpacks, food is now packed in plastic bags, usually enough for three or four meals, Rob Bjornstad said. Volunteers assemble the bags at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church before delivery to the elementary and middle schools.

He hopes to provide a connection to local families. “Maybe if they haven’t seen it in a newsletter, maybe they’ll see it in the paper,” he said.