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‘Buddy Packs' provide food for kids living in poverty
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By Rosa Ruiz
rosa@newstribune.com
For some elementary school students, backpacks aren't just for books.
Six local elementary schools partner with Central Missouri Food Bank's “Buddy Packs” program, which enables children living in poverty to have nutritious food during weekends.
Jefferson City Public Schools had 8,043 students enrolled for the 2007-2008 school year. Of those, 2,664 qualified for free breakfast and lunches and 579 qualified for reduced-price lunches, the district reported.
Through the “Buddy Packs” program, the backpacks are filled with 10-15 pounds of kid-friendly foods. Although there are always different items to help get the kids get through the weekend, there are four staples: protein, grains, shelf fruit and fruit juice.
United Way of Missouri provided the food bank with a grant four years ago to get the program started. There were three pilots schools, including East Elementary.
Principal Julie Martin generally starts the program the Friday after Labor Day.
“We usually start off with 10 bookbags, and by the end of the year, we have 25,” she said.
Martin asks her teachers to tell her about any kids that can benefit from the program. Once the child is selected, she calls them to her office before going home on Friday and hands them the backpack with their initials.
“It's a discreet process, although the kids don't really give each other any flak,” Martin said.
The school also participates in the snack distribution before lunch, where the teacher gives all students snacks that include granola bars and try to minimize sugar.
Some kids take back snacks for their siblings who are not a school that participates in the program, and teachers are encouraged to pack a few items for those kids as well.
While many kids do go home and share their snacks, there are those that are left alone to fend for themselves during the weekend, Martin said.
“I tell the kids that if they want to have their bookbag loaded again, they have to bring it back,” Martin said. “I have not had a lost bookbag in three years.”
Last fall semester, the food bank served 70 schools in 17 counties.
Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of food bank, said the program is fairly new and that is why the targets are elementary schools.
“Our goal is to serve all 32 counties in our area that need us ,” she said.
Six local elementary schools partner with Central Missouri Food Bank's “Buddy Packs” program, which enables children living in poverty to have nutritious food during weekends.
Jefferson City Public Schools had 8,043 students enrolled for the 2007-2008 school year. Of those, 2,664 qualified for free breakfast and lunches and 579 qualified for reduced-price lunches, the district reported.
Through the “Buddy Packs” program, the backpacks are filled with 10-15 pounds of kid-friendly foods. Although there are always different items to help get the kids get through the weekend, there are four staples: protein, grains, shelf fruit and fruit juice.
United Way of Missouri provided the food bank with a grant four years ago to get the program started. There were three pilots schools, including East Elementary.
Principal Julie Martin generally starts the program the Friday after Labor Day.
“We usually start off with 10 bookbags, and by the end of the year, we have 25,” she said.
Martin asks her teachers to tell her about any kids that can benefit from the program. Once the child is selected, she calls them to her office before going home on Friday and hands them the backpack with their initials.
“It's a discreet process, although the kids don't really give each other any flak,” Martin said.
The school also participates in the snack distribution before lunch, where the teacher gives all students snacks that include granola bars and try to minimize sugar.
Some kids take back snacks for their siblings who are not a school that participates in the program, and teachers are encouraged to pack a few items for those kids as well.
While many kids do go home and share their snacks, there are those that are left alone to fend for themselves during the weekend, Martin said.
“I tell the kids that if they want to have their bookbag loaded again, they have to bring it back,” Martin said. “I have not had a lost bookbag in three years.”
Last fall semester, the food bank served 70 schools in 17 counties.
Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of food bank, said the program is fairly new and that is why the targets are elementary schools.
“Our goal is to serve all 32 counties in our area that need us ,” she said.
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boscoe wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:21 PM: