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| Julie Krezman is loading cases of week-end food kits for delivery to Trinity Lutheran Church. |
The group contracts with Second Harvest Food Bank in Spokane for the pre-packaged food which includes an assortment of milk, cereal, juice, fruit, pasta, etc. The kits cost $6.09 per weekend pack per student.
Boundary County families face the additional challenge of three day weekends because of the four day school week, making the Back Pack program a necessary part in the lives of many local families.
The program is funded by caring community citizens, organizations and a grant from the Equinox Foundation. Each Wednesday, Anna Mae Spalding and Barbara Binnall stuff the thirty back packs, which Merle Dinning then delivers and distributes to Naples School on Thursdays.
Families with children who qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs are invited to apply for the community-sponsored weekend program.
Naples school was chosen for the first year pilot program because 76% of the students there qualify for the school food programs.
Second Harvest, a partner of Feeding America, reports that “kids growing up in families where food is in short supply are at increased risk for behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and other physical and cognitive impairments. Research shows that children and teens lacking enough food are at increased risk of illness, failure in school, early pregnancy and incarceration. They are also at greater risk of being in poor health as adults.”
The financial needs have been met for this year’s program of providing 30 backpacks per week through the school year.
The group is working now to raise funds for the next school year, hopefully expanding to other schools. Although a community wide group of volunteers, Trinity Lutheran Church serves as the BoCo Back Pack fiscal sponsor.
If you are interested in contributing to the children, donations may be made to BoCoBack Packs c/o Trinity Lutheran Church, 6784 Cody Street, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.
BoCo meets for a short meeting the third Thursday of each month at Trinity Lutheran at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
For more information call Shirley Anderson (208) 267-3068, or Gini Woodward at (208) 267-5638, or email m.andg.woodward@frontier.com.