We are in the second full year of The Backpack Program, a collaboration between the Merrimack Valley School District (MVSD) that provides school-district input, the Friends Program Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) that provides volunteers to make the program work and Friends of Forgotten Children (FOFC) that provides a volunteer to handle our finances, and a place to store our food and fill the bags.
While most students from low-income families can count on regular meals through the school district’s free- and reduced-price meals program, many of these children go home on Friday afternoon and will eat little again until breakfast at school on Monday morning. (It has been documented that weekend nourishment improves school performance.) The need is still on-going with approximately 43% of the students in the district being food-insecure. We continue to help meet that need on weekends by sending home a backpack filled with healthy food (three suppers, two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks).
Last year 30 children were identified at Penacook Elementary School and had parental permission to participate in this important program. We have recently expanded to include 43 students in the Boscawen and Salisbury elementary schools, bringing our total to 73. (In the future, we hope to be able to include the rest of the schools in the MVSD.)
With the food-purchasing connections of the MVSD Food Service and FOFC we are able to buy many of the needed food items at a greatly reduced cost. However, with the growth of the program, the monthly cost has grown to about $1500.
As a member of the greater Merrimack Valley community you have the opportunity to renew your support or join your neighbors as a Backpack Program sponsor.
While most students from low-income families can count on regular meals through the school district’s free- and reduced-price meals program, many of these children go home on Friday afternoon and will eat little again until breakfast at school on Monday morning. (It has been documented that weekend nourishment improves school performance.) The need is still on-going with approximately 43% of the students in the district being food-insecure. We continue to help meet that need on weekends by sending home a backpack filled with healthy food (three suppers, two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks).
Last year 30 children were identified at Penacook Elementary School and had parental permission to participate in this important program. We have recently expanded to include 43 students in the Boscawen and Salisbury elementary schools, bringing our total to 73. (In the future, we hope to be able to include the rest of the schools in the MVSD.)
With the food-purchasing connections of the MVSD Food Service and FOFC we are able to buy many of the needed food items at a greatly reduced cost. However, with the growth of the program, the monthly cost has grown to about $1500.
As a member of the greater Merrimack Valley community you have the opportunity to renew your support or join your neighbors as a Backpack Program sponsor.
|
To make a donation specifically for The Backpack Program, please use this PayPal button:
|
|
| the_backpack_program_donation_form_-_11-2018.pdf |