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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 3 C Food Backpack For Kids Together, No Child Will Go Hungry “Justin came home from school distressed as he told his mother one of his friends had to look in a dumpster for food over the weekend.” WHEN? In March of 2012 our church’s women’s group began researching and organizing to develop the Food Backpack for Kids( FB4K) program to feed hungry children on school year weekends . WHAT? Each food bag contains nutritious, prepackaged, shelf stable, easily opened food that provides three meals for Saturday and three meals for Sunday. Fresh fruits and vegetables are included. WHERE? Volunteers purchase, store and pack food bags at Cross Road Assembly Church, who underwrites the program expenses, so all public donations are spent on food. The food bags are delivered to the school campus, where staff members distribute them to the kids most at risk for weekend hunger. WHO? We began providing weekend food to 20 at risk for hunger kids in October of 2012. Currently , 60 children in Siuslaw School and 19 in Mapleton receive weekend food via the FB4K program. The food bags are privately distributed by school staff. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WHY? 2016-2017 School Year Quantity Food for Saturday/Sunday Quantity Food for Saturday/Sunday 5,056 5,056 5,056 5,056 5,056 7,347 3,875 Cartons of shelf life milk Cans of soup Boxed Raisins Juice ( apple, grape or orange) Hot chocolate packets Double pack saltine crackers Carrots, peeled and sliced 3,875 2,449 4,898 1,700 4,890 19,592 5,056 2,300 Baggies of celery, cleaned and sliced Fresh apples or oranges Packages of cheese ( string & cheddar) Oatmeal packets Oreo cookies Cups, bowls, spoons Plastic bags Volunteer hours “Prior to the food ‘backpack’ program, Monday mornings and Friday afternoons were the times of unusual behavior for some children in our schools. For the children that had little to no food over the weekend, Monday morning was the time where many children scrambled to satisfy their hunger by eating everything they could get their hands on. Some children would roam from table to table, asking their friends for any uneaten or unwanted foods then proceeding to eat every morsel. Friday afternoons saw the hoarding of food by students that knew that nothing may be at home for the next few days. Certain students would bring their school bags to the cafeteria and collect anything that was given away or left behind to take home. Since the donation of the weekend foodbags began, the mad scramble for foods on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons has ceased. “ If you or your organization is looking to make a charitable donation to support the Food ‘Backpack’ for Kids program, I can guarantee that your gift will be used in the best way possible. All of the labor and overhead of the program is donated or a volunteer effort. Every single dollar you donate will go directly into food for needy children. “ Sincerely, ANDREW S. GRZESKOWIAK Superintendent, Siuslaw School District “One of my early concerns was of the sustainability of the program. When pro- grams of support go away , or when interest fades over time, the impact on families can feel like a signifi cant loss. I am thrilled to report that my concerns have not come to fruition. “The Food Backpack for Kids program is well funded and able to continue to sup- port SES families for the foreseeable future. “The Food Backpack for Kids program is something that sets us apart from other communities with similar demographics. It is gratifying to hear of plans to spread their good work beyond Florence. The program invigorates the minds and souls of kids and adults in our town. It would be an asset to any community.” We would like to THANK several of our community partners. Cross Road Assembly of God Siuslaw Schools and District Staffs Siuslaw PTA Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Ladies of the Elks Western Lane Community Foundation Sincerely, 100% Florence Daughters of the American Revolution of every Three Rivers Foundation dollar Oregon Pacific Bank received go MIKE HARKLERODE es for food. KCST Radio Principal, Siuslaw Elementary Florence Events Center R & R King Logging Bridgewater Please send your tax deductible donation to: Mapleton Food Share Food Backpack for Kids Florence Universal Unitarian Fellowship P.O. Box 3347, Florence, Oregon 97439 VFW and Band of Brothers Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw “ May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the Peace Harbor Hospital work of our hands for us” Psalms 90:17 Mapleton School Staff We thank you, and are grateful for your support. Shippin’ Shack Fred Meyer Rewards Food Services of America Elks Kiwanis Rotary Siuslaw News Food for Lane County Delta Gamma Florence Computer Works Dutch Brothers Florence Christian Church Pro Lumber Florence Shipping Solutions Resurrection Lutheran Oregon Food Bank Rhododendron Quilt Club Grocery Outlet CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK COMMEMORATING OUR 5TH YEAR
