'BackPack' program helps feed at-risk kids

A program designed to meet the needs of hungry children by providing food on the weekends and school breaks is raising funds so that it can continue in the future
The BackPack Program began in Whitefish and Columbia Falls schools in January 2012 and has since been providing food for 175 at-risk children in the two communities. The Montana Food Bank Network collaborates with the North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish and the Columbia Falls Food Bank to get the food into schools.
In honor of National Nutrition Month, The Wave, the Montana Food Bank Network and Glacier Bank have partnered on a fundraising campaign to help the program continue.
At Muldown Elementary last year, 34 students received 616 bags of food.
Muldown counselor Kelly Talsma sees first-hand the impact the program makes.
“It’s truly a need for the students,” she said. “When I miss doing it, they come and ask about the food.”
She pointed to volunteer Heather Lockhart as the one who has made sure the program is successful in the school.
“She has a heart for the kids and really makes it work,” she said. “She will add fresh fruit or banana bread to the bags. Sometimes a kid will say they’ve never had a particular fruit and she makes sure it’s in the bag.”
Talsma said the students are often happy getting something most people take for granted, such as the individual portions of instant macaroni and cheese. She noted that students often ask for extra food.
“The program is really special to these guys,” she said.
In Columbia Falls, 141 students at three schools received 2,526 bags of food during the second half of last school year.
The bags contain enough food for two days and contain easy-to-open packaging. Bags are placed directly into the backpacks of children before they leave school on Friday afternoon. Each bag contains two cereal bowls, shelf stable milk, two juice boxes, two individual size snacks and two ready-to-eat meat/vegetable meals.
The Angora Ridge Foundation provided a $25,000 start-up grant for the program, but more funding is needed to continue to distribute food. The Whitefish Soroptimist group recently awarded the program $1,500.
The fundraising campaign offers a number of ways to participate:
• Wave members can donate $1 per month to their dues by signing up at The Wave service desk.
• The public can make a donation at Glacier Bank locations.
• Sign up at The Wave and make a BackPack Program donation of $20 or more and get 50 percent of the Wave enrollment fees.
For more information, call the Wave at 862-2444.