Patrick Gannon

NORTH KINGSTOWN — Ten-year-old Patrick Gannon has figured out a way to feed the hungry.

Eat more cereal.

His plan is simple. This Friday, he’s asking parents to forgo a big dinner and serve Wheaties –– or Cap’n Crunch or Sugar Pops –– instead. Afterward, they can donate the money they would have spent on a big meal to a local food bank.

The idea is catching on.

Yesterday, interim Schools Supt. Philip D. Thornton e-mailed Patrick’s request to the parents of the nearly 4,400 students in the town’s nine schools.

Patrick is hoping people who buy groceries for the food bank will mark them “Cereal Night” so officials can gauge the success of his plan.

“It’s a great idea,” says Patrick’s mom, Jackie. Her son, who wants to be a design engineer, “is a big thinker.”

Patrick came up with the idea at the dinner table last week. His younger brother’s nursery school had just agreed to help the local food pantry.

“I told them one in six kids is hungry,” says Jackie. “That’s a lot of kids.”

Patrick mulled it over. He looked at his little brother, Liam, who is 5 . Then he did the math. About 300 children attend Patrick’s school, Hamilton Elementary. Fifty children weren’t getting enough to eat.

“Instead of you spending $30 on dinner one night, Liam and I will eat a bowl of cereal,” Patrick offered. “Then you’ll be able to feed the hungry children.”

That night, Jackie thought about her son’s offer.

It wasn’t the first time he’d tried to make a difference. Three years ago, when officials closed Wickford Elementary School, Patrick sold lemonade and offered his profits –– $23 –– to then-Supt. James Halley. “Now you can open my school,” he said.

Jackie had to do something. The next day she e-mailed some friends. They liked Patrick’s idea.

“We’re not wealthy by any means,” says Jackie, a stay-at-home mom. Her husband, Bill, handles claims for an insurance company. The family lives in a small house on Tower Hill Road.

“I can’t imagine not being able to serve my children breakfast or lunch or dinner. I hope this wakes people up. With the economy the way it is, any one of us could go hungry.”

Rajiv Kumar, the chairman of Shape Up RI, a nonprofit wellness group, yesterday applauded Patrick’s effort to help feed the hungry.

But a green vegetable is a better meal choice, he says.

“Most cereals are good for you, but broccoli is so much better, especially if an entire community is going to be skipping an expensive meal to feed Rhode Islanders in need.”

Jackie, meanwhile, has already planned Friday’s dinner. “Cheerios, of course.”

pdavis@projo.com