Volunteers with Culver’s Blessings in a Backpack program realize that hunger doesn’t halt just because school is no longer in session.
Thanks to the generous donations of committed community members, Blessings in a Backpack was able to expand their winter school program into the summertime last year.
This year, they will continue the summer program and will be working in conjunction with the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide weekend meals to students who require additional assistance.
The USDA Program uses schools and other community sites to provide breakfast and lunch to students Monday through Friday while Blessings in a Backpack will make sure that kids have food to take home on the weekends.
Dianne Johnson, the founder of the Blessings in a Backpack Program of Culver, said the number of students who receive assistance through the program has fluctuated in the three years since it has been implemented, but right now they’re at about 100 kids who rely on these weekend meals.
She mentioned that though the program has “Backpacks” in the title, for anonymity reasons, as well as convenience, the meals are supplied in grocery bags. This gives students the option to either utilize the bag supplied through the program or to put the food in their own backpack before heading home.
She said the program stipulates that bags must include two breakfast items, two lunch items and two and snacks. However, they include additional things resulting in about 10 to 14 items per bag.
Johnson noted that while some of the packages may have an expiration date that has passed, that is just a reflection of when the store aims to sell the product and it doesn’t mean the food is bad. She said they would never supply students with anything that could potentially make them sick. For more information about that, check out this “Best if Used by” reference table.
Organization officials want to ensure that every student who needs weekend meal assistance receives it, so parents interested in getting involved may contact the school corporation. Johnson said that students will likely receive a permission slip prior to the end of the year that will give parents the option to opt into the program.
While the Bolt for Blessings fundraising race certainly provided a good deal of money for this year’s program, Johnson said additional monetary donations are needed to help prepare for next school year and keep the program going. She added that every dollar makes a difference.
She said that donations are tax deductible and individuals who send their donations to her will receive a handwritten thank you note from her as well as a receipt from Blessings in a Backpack Head Quarters.
Checks can be made out to Blessings in Backpack, with Culver Community Schools in the memo line. Cash donations and checks can be sent to Dianne Johnson at 306 N Ohio Street in Culver. If you have any questions, you can contact her at 812-699-1099.
Donations can also be made online at BlessingsInaBackpack.org. Be sure to designate the donation to Culver if you wish to keep your contribution local.
