Over the holidays one of the things that many people do is eat too much. In most homes it’s easy to do. There are Christmas cookies, candy and baked goods made for the family gatherings that call out to us to be devoured.
But not everyone has a bounty of food. Some families don’t have enough food, let alone treats or extra nourishment. If you want to help, there is a simple way that can be done. You can donate to the Snacks in Packs program.
Snacks in Packs provides a bag of food that kids can eat on weekends. These bags are purchased at the food bank for $4 per week. For $24 you could sponsor a child for six months
Snacks in 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.
Organizers “shop” for food items through Second Harvest and receive the pre-packed bags of food that are added to and changed based upon donations. School staff or volunteers deliver the food, 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, and 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.
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 47 children in Cook County and that adds up.
We also provide food to any child in the free and reduced lunch program over the summer who enrolls in the program.
Additionally, 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.
If you would like to donate to the program, send check to Kids Plus, a 501c3 nonprofit, P. O. Box 63, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
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