BackSacks - Weekend Food
BACKSACKS-WEEKEND FOOD FOR KIDS
In Indiana, one in four children live in families at or below the federal poverty level. These children often receive assistance from programs operating during the week, such as free and reduced price lunches and after-school services. However, it is over the weekend that many of these children risk going hungry.
BackSacks, a program of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, is dedicated to improving the lives of Indiana children by providing BackSacks full of kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods to chronically hungry K-6 students over the weekends. Gleaners consulted with a nutritionist to establish four rotating menus that include two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, snacks, and drinks.
All of the items included in a BackSack can be opened easily by a child and do not require refrigeration or heating. Approximately 60% of a child’s nutritional needs over the weekend are met by the BackSack he or she receives.
Gleaners began delivering BackSacks in 2006 and has continually strived to improve and expand the program. This year, for the first time, Gleaners is proud to offer the BackSack program to schools in all 21 counties throughout its service area. Additionally, Gleaners worked with Lilly Six-Sigma professionals to develop a tool that helps school officials accurately identify chronically hungry children, thereby ensuring that BackSacks are being received by those students that need it most. As of October 2011, 66 schools operated the program, serving approximately 3,400 children, with the goal of reaching 10,000 children by the end of the 2011-2012 school year. This program is completely free to schools and is provided by Gleaners Food Bank at no cost to the students and families.
As we see the economy continue to lag and more and more services cut, the BackSack program will make a significant impact on the lives of Indiana families. For example, an Indianapolis mother expressed great appreciation for the BackSack her child at IPS 60 (William A. Bell) will receive. In addition to the IPS student, she also has a handicapped 3 year old and a 2 year old. The family is homeless and the father is usually absent. The weekly BackSack that her child will receive from Gleaners will be one bright spot in the family’s struggles and may be just what it takes to help get them through the weekend.