Program sends food home with children

• Image

Ben Rodgers / The Sun Holly Miller, food pantry coordinator with Community Action Region VI, fills a backpack with peanut butter for a child in need on Thursday afternoon, as part of the Backpack Program.

Talk about it

Backpacks filled with food will go out to Jamestown children in need today to ensure they have enough food to get them through the holiday break.

The Backpack Program by Community Action Region VI started last week. Twelve backpacks filled with various foods will be dropped off at Washington Elementary School so children in need can take them home.

“We have a lot of needy families in this town that need this program,” said Holly Miller, food pantry coordinator for Community Action Region VI.

The program started in Bismarck in 2006 and was originally designed for homeless children, said Kathy Williams, executive director of Community Action Region VI. The program has since expanded to Mandan, Fargo and now James-town.

It has been in the works for Jamestown for more than a year, Williams said.

Last week, when the program started in Jamestown, six backpacks were distributed. This week the number is up to 12. So far 18 total backpacks will be distributed.

“I expect it to be huge, it will catch on,” Miller said. “It’s such a helpful thing for the families with the economy and everything.”

Now that the program is under way, Williams said it will take place every weekend throughout the school year. Letters went home with children at Washington Elementary and parents could respond if they were interested in receiving a backpack.

Children pick up the backpacks after school and bring them back on Monday. This week the bags will come back on Jan. 4.

While on the surface it may not look like Jamestown has a homeless problem, some families have lived out of their cars or campers or stayed at a friend’s place, Williams said.

Miller said homelessness isn’t an epidemic but that it is relevant.

Oftentimes families have a home but cannot afford to buy food with the other bills, she said.

“Food is very expensive. … Kids eat a lot and they’re growing,” Miller said. “It’s a big burden on their families.”

Each backpack contains foods that are healthy and that children should be able to prepare, Williams said.

Some items include peanut butter, jelly, crackers, cereals, juices, ravioli and macaroni and cheese. Some of the food can also be used as a mid-morning snack that some students may otherwise not be able to have, Miller said.

“The ultimate goal would be that every grade school is benefiting from this program,” Williams said.

Because the program is only in its second week, gauging a need has been difficult but Miller expects continued growth with each week. She wants to have 50 backpacks by the end of the year.

Currently the program receives funding through the stimulus program but Williams has budgeted it through 2011 as part of a Community Service Block Grant. For staff funding, backpacks and other expenses Community Action Region VI was funded $8,000 and that is going quickly, Miller said.

Community Action Region VI looks to expand the program as it receives more donations.

Volunteer time and monetary donations are accepted. Currently Miller fills the backpacks in between appointments. Driving to pick up food and drop off the backpacks is time consuming, she said. The food pantry is also operating at this time, Miller said.

To set up a time to volunteer call 252-1821 and ask for Miller. Donations can be sent to PO Box 507, Jamestown ND 58402. Donations of nonperishable food for the Community Action food pantry can also be dropped off at 1108 Fifth Ave. N.E.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, food packs, news, backpacks, jamestown, food, children