Like a lot of successful volunteer programs, the Power Packs Project began as a simple, basic idea.

"In 2005, I learned that some local children were food-insecure on weekends when the school's free lunch program was not available to them," Power Packs founder Joan Espenshade said.

The following Monday, they sometimes returned to school hungry because "parents ... had to make difficult decisions like whether to pay the utility bill or buy food," she said.

Espenshade created Power Packs to help parents "make better use of their limited food dollars and ensure that their children were well-fed and ready to learn," she explained.

Residence: Lancaster.

Family: Husband John; son David, 24; and daughter Paige, 21.

Pets: Buttons, a German shepherd, and Buddy, a Cairn terrier; they are best friends.

Education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Chester University.

How the Power Packs Project works: Each week, participating families receive a low-cost recipe with the ingredients to make it, and other staples such as soup, cereal and peanut butter. The cost for the ingredients is included, and families can see that they can provide meals for much less than the cost of pizza or a frozen entree. Tips on nutrition, using leftovers, wise shopping habits and other useful information are included.

More than 100 volunteers make this possible. They create and translate the recipes. They also order, pick up, deliver, shelve and inventory the food. Teams of volunteers pick up the food at a warehouse and take it to the schools where they pack and distribute it to the families.

Where the food comes from: Power Packs gets groceries from Community Action Program of Lancaster County and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and also purchases them. The money for the purchases is from grants, donations by individuals, churches, service clubs and others. (For more information, e-mail execdir@powerpacksproject.org).

Has the Power Packs Project made a tangible difference? Teachers report that the participating children are more focused, are better behaved and less likely to need to visit the school nurse. A survey in May showed that families were using and saving the recipes, learning from the tips, and reducing their grocery costs.

What's new with the project this school year? Power Packs is doubling in size to serve 15 Lancaster city schools, as well as schools in five county districts. We anticipate that we will have 400 to 500 families who will be served weekly.

Growing up I wanted to be: A teacher or chef. Power Packs allows me to follow both passions.

The best advice my parents gave me: "You can do it!" They made me feel that there was nothing I couldn't do.

What I listen to on my iPod: The Beatles, Elton John, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Ben Folds Five and Janis Joplin.

Favorite author: Anna Quindlen.

The best book I've read lately: "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett.

The best movie I've seen recently: "The Soloist."

Web sites I frequent: Foodnetwork.com, NYTimes.com, current.com.

A TV show I don't like to admit I watch: "America's Got Talent."

My culinary specialty: Homemade soup.

Something that can always be found in my refrigerator: Lots of seasonal vegetables and homemade stock.

Favorite vacation destination: Long Beach Island, N.J.

Favorite spots in Lancaster County: Central Market, and the Corn Wagon on Route 741.

A quotation to live by: "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." — 1913 Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.