MCC Elementary Backpack Program
By Nikki Cheskie – MCC Elementary Mental Health Coordinator MCC Elementary is helping to meet the nutritional needs of our students in Junior Kindergarten – Grade 6 by offering the Backpack Program again this year.
The goal of the Backpack Program is to reduce childhood hunger by sending food packages home with identified students each weekend. This is a time when students are unable to access school breakfast and lunch programs. Supplemental food programs such as this have become popular around the country in recent years. MCC Elementary currently has 46 students participating in our Backpack Program Each week, Backpack Program participants receive 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items, 2 boxes of 100% juice, 2 fruit items, and 2 snack items. We aim to keep the cost of the food and packaging materials to between $6-$7 per student each week. We also make sure that the food items are shelf-stable and easy to prepare. We have gotten wonderful feedback from participants and their families in response to this program. It is helping to fill a need for children and families in our school district.
We are currently seeking other grant opportunities in hopes of continuing the Backpack Program throughout the school year. Our funds for this program are being rapidly depleted as the cost of food products has risen in the past few months. There has also been a lack of availability of certain products, causing us to have to purchase higher priced items. We would appreciate any donations that can help us continue this valuable program for students in need.
If you are interested in making a financial contribution to help support the MCC Backpack Program, please contact Nikki Cheskie at 836-6450 ext. 5130.
