This is an interesting question. There is both a list to select from and an option to add whatever you want. The list was created by teens in ours program. They made a list of 19 common snack items. Because of how the form works it was significantly easier to have selectable items because we can just look at it and very easily go 18 kids want sour gummy candy instead of seeing 18 different ways of requesting sour gummy candy and having to sort through that. I’m very lucky to get to do a lot of problem solving with our youth around this project (and every other project) to make sure it’s both personalized and functional. And again we are buying a lot of stuff locally like pickle chips from Trader Joe’s and Samyang Instant Noodles from Veranda Asian Market. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to have someone mail us a single bag of chips from TJ’s but the young person who requested it will definitely get it in their care package. Also just want to take another moment to say our youth leadership is amazing. - Sedum

90+ kids actually. Dried fruit and seaweed are both on the list. Sadly we decided to not include trail/nut mixes because too many kids brought up themselves or siblings having tree nut allergies. Most of the kids didn’t like the idea of including granola/protein bars because the ones without tree nuts are honestly kind of bad and also generally not fun. The methodology for this program I think actually covers any genuine concern you might have about food wants being met outside of the fact that we can’t ship vegetables. If you have any ideas for solutions about further concerns you might have please let me know! Otherwise we have opted out of food policing a community that has higher chances of developing restrictive eating disorders than the rest of their peers. - Sedum