Most kids can hardly wait for school to let out for the holidays. But for too many students, winter vacation means going home to an empty kitchen and going without the free or reduced price meals they receive in school.
In Indiana, where one in four children live in families at or below the federal poverty level, schools are partnering with local food banks to make sure students don’t go hungry over the weekends or the holidays. Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is working with 92 schools to distribute BackSacks full of kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods to approximately 4,690 chronically hungry K-6 students each weekend. BackSacks are delivered to students at school every Friday afternoon and contain two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, snacks, and drinks – enough food to meet approximately 60% of a child’s nutritional needs over the weekend.
In Decatur Township Schools, the Child Nutrition Department is stepping up to supplement the BackSacks with additional food items to help Decatur students through the long winter break. For students and families struggling in this tough economy, these BackSacks will help make the holidays brighter. Click on the video below to learn more and see how the BackSacks are assembled.
Is looks like a fabulous program! Who helps supplement the program to keep it going? Just curious and what organizations are involved besides the schools? Do all children in each school get or just some? And if so how did you determine which students? Thanks!