United Way of
 Bemidji Area


 
  

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to our 2010-11 BackPack Buddies Partners:

North Country Food Bank

North Country Regional
Health Services

Paul Bunyan Telephone (providing backpacks)

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Backpack Buddies program is made possible through support from North Country Food Bank and funded locally through support from United Way of Bemidji Area and North Country Health Services Foundation.
 

 


ABOUT THE BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM

While every child has access to nutritious breakfast and lunch during school, the same cannot be said for weekends and school breaks. The Backpack Buddies program was developed to help ensure that every child in the Bemidji school district has access to nutritious, non-perishable and easy-to-prepare food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.  The intended results of the program are: 

1)   children will no longer experience hunger or food insecurities; and,

2)   their attendance, behavior, academics, social interaction, health and
attention span will improve.

Goal: Decrease the number of children that exhibit behaviors indicating and resulting from food insecurity and hunger

Target:  After 6 months of being enrolled in the program, 75% of the participants will show a decrease in behaviors that indicate food insecurity and hunger and they will show improvements in social interaction, attention span, physical and mental health, academics and attendance.

  • The program is being piloted this year at JW Smith Elementary thanks to support from North Country Health Services Foundation, BiCAP, North Country Food Bank and Paul Bunyan Communications. 

    It began mid November 2010 and will run through the end of the school year (June 2011).  JW Smith was chosen because they have one of the highest percentage of children on free and reduced lunch and nearly one in five students have been identified as experiencing hunger and food insecurity.  Currently 100 students are enrolled in the Backpack Buddies program.
     

  • As support is gained for the program, the United Way will add Bemidji area schools in the order of where the greatest need has been determined by the Bemidji Area School District.  We will not begin a program in a new school until funding is secured to sustain the current school's programming and until funding is secured to support the program for an entire year in the new school. 
     

  • The program provides backpacks filled with food that is child friendly, nonperishable and easily consumed free of charge.  Average weekly menu: 2 entrees, 1 snack, 2 breakfast items, 1 vegetable, 2 fruits, and 2 milks, and 1 high protein.  The packs are purchased at a discounted rate from North Country Food Bank.  The cost per pack average is $3.13.
     

  • Parents/Guardians that have children enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program have the ability to sign their kids up for Backpack Buddies program and teachers/staff have the ability to make referrals while ensuring confidentiality.   
     

  • Backpacks are discretely distributed to children, as best determined by the school, on the last day before weekends and all scheduled school breaks/holiday breaks beginning. 
     

  • In 2010-11 school year, the United Way of Bemidji Area will provide 3225 food packs to 100 students at JW Smith Elementary.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The ability to sustain the BackPack Buddies program and implement it in other schools within the Bemidji School District is solely dependent on funding.  As support is gained for the program, the United Way will add Bemidji area schools in the order of where the greatest need has been
determined by the Bemidji Area School District.  We will not begin a program in a new school until funding is secured to sustain the current school's programming and until funding is secured to support the program for an entire year in the new school. 

To implement the program successfully at JW Smith, providing backpacks of food every weekend and during all school breaks (51 total breaks x 100 students = 5100 x $3 per pack), the annual investment is $15,300.  This allows us to ensure 100 students will not have to experience food insecurity or hunger.  We estimate that the program will cost $4500-$7500 for each additional school.
 

You can help us put a stop to Bemidji area children experiencing food insecurity:

  • Sponsor 30 students for an entire year at one school
    (approx. 50 weekends and breaks x $3 x 30) = $4500 
     

  • Sponsor 50 students for an entire year at one school
    (approx. 50 weekends and breaks x $3 x 50) = $7500
     

  • Sponsor backpacks for 100 children for one weekend/2 day school break = $300
     

  • Sponsor backpacks for 100 children for an entire month (4 weekends) = $1200
     

Partners/sponsors will receive recognition in United Way's annual report, press releases and other BackPack Buddies program correlated material.  In addition, all sponsors will receive bi-annual updates/reports about the program and its outcomes.

Download the Partnership Overview and Agreement

  
 
 
©2008 United Way of Bemidji Area