Blessings in a Backpack Program

(hoy)

The Backpack for Food Program (or Blessings in a Backpack, or Backpack Buddy Program) is a nationally recognized program that is supported by America's Second Harvest, the Nation's Food Bank Network. This program has only been going on now for the past year or so, and is a great way for the community to help put an end to childhood hunger. I myself am trying to get this program started in my community, with the help of the nurse from the school in which my son attends.

This program gives children who are in need of food, (children who receive free/reduced lunches at school,) a backpack with "six balanced meals and two healthy snacks at the end of every week," for the weekend or school vacation. (Fry) For more information on what food goes into the backpacks, please go to this link, typical food bag - TYPICAL BACK-PACK FOOD BAG. Not many people know of this program, while it is still in its first years, however; many children benefit greatly from it, and I am sure the children within your community would too.

"ABOUT THE BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM
While every child has access to nutritious breakfast and lunch during school, the same cannot be said for weekends and school breaks. The Backpack Buddies program was developed to help ensure that every child in the school district has access to nutritious, non-perishable and easy-to-prepare food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations. The intended results of the program are: 

1)   children will no longer experience hunger or food insecurities; and,

2)   their attendance, behavior, academics, social interaction, health and
attention span will improve.

• The program provides backpacks filled with food that is child friendly, nonperishable and easily consumed free of charge. Average weekly menu: 2 entrees, 1 snack, 2 breakfast items, 1 vegetable, 2 fruits, and 2 milks, and 1 high protein. The school nurse will use school records to identify and flag any food allergies.
   
• Parents/Guardians that have children enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program will have the ability to sign their kids up for Backpack Buddies program and teachers/staff will have the ability to make referrals while ensuring confidentiality.
   
• Backpacks will be discretely distributed to children, as best determined by the school, on the last day before weekends and all scheduled school breaks/holiday breaks " (Way)

If you take the time to contact your local schools, or superintendent, you will find, if your community does not have this program already, it would benefit greatly from it. I was amazed, and saddened, by the statistics of children that attend my son's elementary school, who were in need of help, to be able to eat. Over 40% of the children that go to school with my son receive free or reduced lunches. That is almost half of the school, and the school he attends only has around 250 students. Do you know how many students receive free or reduced lunch at you child(ren)'s school?

"One in six Americans, including more than 17 million children will face hunger this year.

In the land of plenty, this is unacceptable.

But, if we care enough to do our part, it can get better."

(Help)

Out of that 1 in 6

"Nearly 1 in 4 Children is Affected by

Hunger at Some Point During the Year"

(Foundation)

The Backpack for Food Program is run solely on the good will of volunteers, and sponsors. For more information on how to get this program started in your community, please visit this link: Backpack Buddy Program—How to Begin. If you are interested in getting a grant to help with the cost for the program, over and above any food drive or fundraiser you have done, I found this to be helpful:

"LOIs Accepted

January 2011

Does your organization offer an innovative program to address child hunger and nutrition needs in a local community? The ConAgra Foods Foundation is seeking new community partners to join them in the fight against child hunger. Letters of Interest for the 2011 Community Impact Grants program will be accepted from Jan. 3 to Jan. 14, 2011. Review eligibility requirements & guidelines" (Foundation)



There are many great web sites out at this moment speaking of this program, here are a few that I have found helpful in my researching of this program:

Foundation, Congra Foods. Congra Foods Foundation. n.d. 3 December 2010 http://www.conagrafoodsfoundation.org/index.jsp

Fry, Martha. MarthaFry.org. 20 October 2010. 03 December 2010 http://marthafry.org/?p=3380

Help, Hungry to. ConAgra Foods Foundation. 2 December 2010. 3 December 2010 http://www.hungry2help.org/

hoy, infor sur. Hilary Duff's charity to reach Colombia. 10 July 2009. 3 December 2010 http://www.infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/features/saii/features/2009/07/09/feature-03

Peace, Quotes for a Culture of. We Can End Hunger. n.d. 3 December 2010   http://www.cultureofpeace.com/quotes/endhunger-quotes-3.htm

Way, United. United Way of Bemidji Area. 2008. 3 December 2010
http://www.unitedwaybemidji.org/BackPackBuddies.htm

"Why should there be hunger and deprivation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life? There is no deficit in human resources. The deficit is in human will. -- Martin Luther King, Jr." (Peace)