Backpack Program

How How,

I connected with Mr. Caprice Brown over at the food bank. One of the Y-Guides sponsored programs is the Food Bank BackPack Program. I think we have enough wampum to cover the costs.

The BackPack program is intended to meet the nutritional needs of children during non-school hours, specifically weekends. It targets children who would benefit from nutritious meals. The BackPack Program is an additional component of the Food Bank’s mission of ending hunger in our 34-county service area.

Through the program, once each week kids will be given special backpacks that are filled with non-perishable food that can be used to meet their weekend nutritional needs. A typical pack, depending upon the Food Bank’s inventory, will contain: a protein (such as beans, tuna, soup, beef stew, peanut butter and/or soup), vegetables (such as canned spinach, string beans, etc.), canned fruits (such as peaches, pears, pineapples, etc.) and miscellaneous items, such as individual wrapped fruit juice, crackers, Multigrain bars, individual boxes of cereal, pudding cups, etc.

The six steps for a successful BackPack service project are listed below:

1. Talk about this project with your tribe. You can read or distribute the information above. Get everyone excited about the need to help these kids.
2. Choose a service project leader (s).
3. Call or email John Foister at 919-865-3022 or via email at jfoister@foodbankcenc.org or J. Caprice Brown at 919-865-3037 or via email at cbrown@foodbankcenc.org to schedule an appointment. Do this soon so that you have the date on the calendar.
4. Assign each member of the tribe to buy a quantity of the items shown below in the “Shopping List” section. Most tribes choose to assign each member the purchase of 50-100 individual items each (see below).
5. Send an email asking Big Braves and Guides/ Princesses to go shopping together sometime before your tribe’s visit. (You do not need to shop as a tribe.)
   
6. Show up at the Food Bank for your visit. It will only take an hour, generally on Saturday but other times are available.

You may be asking what types of food would be appropriate for the program. The basic answer is kid-friendly, nutritious, cost effective, nonperishable foods with limited or no preparation. A typical pack will contain:

• A protein (such as beans, soup, beef stew, peanut butter and/or soup [please, no tuna])
• Vegetables (such as canned spinach, string beans, etc.)
• Canned fruits (such as peaches, pears, pineapples, etc.)
• Miscellaneous items (such as individual wrapped fruit juice, crackers, Multigrain bars, individual boxes of cereal, pudding cups, etc.)

The most needed items are individual size:

• Spaghetti & Meatballs / Ravioli / Beef-a-roni / Lasagna
• Soup
• Fruit cups
• Cereal Boxes
• 100% Fruit Juice large or small foil/paper cartons
• Pop Tarts
• Pudding Cups
• Fruit Bars
• Animal/Graham Crackers
• Raisins
• Trail Mix
• Individually Wrapped Snacks

Let's see if we can discuss at date at the Dad's only meeting in August.