Western Colorado Pediatrics donated $5,460 to a program providing food to children who might otherwise go hungry.

A division of Primary Care Partners, Western Colorado Pediatrics made good on a promise to donate $5 for every well-child checkup completed between July 1 and Aug. 1 to the Kids Aid backpack program.

The program provides backpacks filled with food to students in Mesa County School District 51 schools who might not have access to meals over weekends.

Dr. Megan Stinar, a pediatrician with Western Colorado Pediatric Associates, said the program is important. “Child hunger has a profound impact on health and academic performance, and when children don’t have consistent access to nutritious meals, their ability to focus,learn and thrive is significantly diminished.”

Tessa Kaiser, executive director of Kids Aid, welcomed the effort and donation. “We’re so grateful we connected in this community because we can’t serve all these people alone. We’re grateful for the support. This is going to go a long way. Kids are going to be nourished internally.”

Primary Care Partners includes nine physician-owned divisions operating at three locations across the Grand Valley. PCP provides a range of health care services to people across Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.