Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Comments for a Cause - BackPack Program

I can't believe it is September 1st!  I swear I was just introducing August's Comments for a Cause!  But I guess it was a month ago, so it is time to wrap up my donation to Alzheimer's Association and move onto a new cause.  Last month I had 56 comments, equaling a donation of $28.  Thank you to everyone that helped me rally around a young man's lemonade stand mission!

For this month I couldn't help but think of children across the country and world going back to school.  If you follow my blog, you know that our oldest son, LP, started Pre-K this year.  Going to school is fun and exciting.  When LP comes home from the school bus (which is one of his favorite parts of going to school) he has no worries (and not just because he doesn't have homework... yet at least).  He gets to come home, play with his sisters, eat a nice supper, and then gets to go to sleep in a bed.  But for some kids, including some of his classmates, eating a nice meal in the evenings and all weekend long is a luxury.  That is why, during the month of September, I'll be donating $0.50 for every comment made on any of my blog to the BackPack Program.

My son LP with his backpack ready for school

The BackPack Program provides a sack of kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare foods to low-income elementary children on Fridays before they go home for the weekend.  There is no cost for the children, their families or their schools to participate.  The contents of the backpacks vary each week, but often contain items like soup, juice, cereals, fruit cups, milk, pudding cups and snacks.  The Food Bank of Iowa estimates it costs less than $4 per sack to provide meals for these children weekly.



Does your school have a program like this?  What other programs have you heard of to help low-income children?  Remember to Comment for a Cause all month long!

27 comments:

  1. I love the Backpack Program and had Blessings in a Backpack as one of my own Comments for a Cause awhile back. I will try to be more faithful in coming to the blog to comment this month! Thanks for doing this!

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    1. Thank you for commenting and inspiring me to do it. It is great to see so many programs like this across the US.

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  2. I love the BackPack program!! What a great cause! It is such a blessing to children and families. I wish my school allowed them to be sent home with preschoolers. It's only a kindergarten and above program where I'm student teaching!

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    1. I think that is actually how it is for most schools in Iowa. The program usually just for elementary students. I wonder what it'd take to get preschoolers included???

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    2. That is interesting! I might have to look into that :)

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  3. It's an amazing thing to do something like this! You are truly a wonderful person :)

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  4. Love this because I love any cause that has to do with kids!!

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  5. Val, I've never heard of this--what a wonderful program! There is something I'm curious about--are the kids embarrassed being singled out? How is this handled?

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    1. At our school, the student council is given locker numbers and they just put the backpacks in the lockers. They aren't given names, just numbers. Now, I guess if the student has a locker sign or something that reveals who they are they could figure it out, but this is how our school handles it. I don't think the high school student council is too concerned who the elementary students are, so it hasn't been a big deal.

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  6. We helped with a program like this when we lived in the Quad Cities. It makes you realize what you take for granted. Such a wonderful program! We are the richest country in the world. NOBODY should be going hungry!

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    1. Exactly Kristen. Our school also offers breakfast and lunch all summer long during the week for some of the same reasons we have the BackPack Program.

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  7. Great cause! Keep up the good work!

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  8. Our community has been involved with backpack buddies for several years now. It is a great program started in our town by church members.

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    1. Our school's program is done through the Food Bank of Iowa and I know your school has to have a certain percentage of free and reduce school lunches to qualify. I think it is great for communities and churches to step up and take leadership when this is a need for your school!

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  9. This is a great cause -- nice work! Mary

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  10. What a wonderful cause! I am glad LP has been enjoying school. We have been watching the school buses go by and getting excited just about that. I am sure Jax will be so happy to go when his time comes!

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    1. Thanks Carlee. He has been having a great time!

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  11. Great program, it is sad that in an area where we grow food for the rest of the world there are still children who don't have enough to eat. I am glad that you are helping to raise awareness!

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    1. Thanks Abbey. I think because we are in an area that does grow food for the world, you see programs like this in place, because we don't want to see kids go hungry no matter their financial situation.

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