The Cook County Snacks and Packs was launched by the School District 166 Wellness Committee in 2013 after its members realized that some children in the community were not getting enough healthy food over the weekend. Diane Booth of Cook County Extension Service heard about the “BackPack Program,” a national initiative and thought it could be modified to work in Cook County.
After partnering with the Cook County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, and with generous donations from the North Shore Federal Credit Union and community members, the Snacks and Packs program officially got under way and continues today, now overseen by Cook County KidsPlus.
Organizers “shop” for food items through Second Harvest and receive the pre-packed bags of food. School staff or volunteers deliver the food, packaged in non-descript backpacks, to a child’s cubby or locker. Food distribution occurs on the last day of the school week to help fill the nutritional gap over the weekend.
Food items are easy-to-open, easy-to-prepare, individual or small serving size foods. Items include cereal, shelf-stable milk, 100 percent juices, canned entrees or soup, fruits, vegetables and snack items like granola bars, etc.
According to Kids Plus board member Beth Kennedy, each pack costs about $4 through Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. Multiply that by four distributions each month for approximately 42 children in Grand Marais and that adds up.
In addition, vouchers are available through the Cook County Food Shelf to allow families to purchase $10 of fresh fruit and veggies. The fresh food vouchers add $22 – $32 per month per child to the program costs, so fresh produce is not always available.
If you would like to learn more about supporting the BackPack Program, contact Diane Booth at (218) 387-3015 or email diane.booth@co.cook.mn.us.
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