BATAVIA — There are days when a third-grade John Kennedy student goes hungry, he says.
So it was an unexpected treat when he became part of United Way’s Backpack Program.
“There was lots of food and I was happy,” the unidentified 8-year-old said. “We don’t have much food at our house. When I’m hungry my stomach growls.”
Filled with individual serving-sized meals, snacks and goodies, the backpack goes to designated children every Friday to tide them over for weekends and longer holiday breaks. Although there are only seven students getting the packs at John Kennedy, the program is benefitting many more at the Vine Street school, counselor Greg Ciszak said.
For example, that little boy has five siblings who share in his backpack bounty.
“Most of those students have siblings, which means that definitely over 20 kids get food,” Ciszak said Wednesday. “I think it’s fantastic. (When he contacted parents) an overwhelming majority seemed very appreciative of what the school was trying to do. It’s really the agency running the program. We were just happy to facilitate it.”
Former United Way Foundation Director Lori Stupp gave an update on the program to the city school’s Board of Education Monday. Students are not named, but given a code, she said. That is a requirement to keep confidential the families who were identified based on needing “that little extra help.” Those families may have had a mom or dad recently lose a job or otherwise are having a difficult time making ends meet in this unstable economy, Stupp said.
Since it began the first week of October, there have been “very very few glitches,” she said. The program costs about $5 to $6 per child, and there are 96 participants in the city. Cash and food donations have so far kept the program going, with the hope to make it self-sustaining with assistance from individuals, groups and businesses.
Target donated the backpacks and Salvation Army is headquarters for the food bank. Backpacks go home with children every Friday and are brought back to school on Monday. They are returned to Salvation Army for refilling every Thursday morning, and the process repeats every week.
Donations of food have been keeping up with demand so far, said Captain Patricia Kurtz of Salvation Army. The supply could use some ravioli and other single cup microwaveable pasta meals, she said. Those can be purchased at most area grocery and bulk food stores. It’s a program worth continuing, she said.
“Everything I’ve heard has been very positive, and the parents are appreciative, she said. “The backpacks are coming back empty.”
An 8-year-old girl said it was a mystery when she first got the backpack. And it has been a bit of a dilemma, she said, of whether to go to her cello lesson or pick up the pack first on Fridays. She was surprised when she first opened up the pack and definitely would miss it if the program went away.
“I first thought, ‘what’s inside?’ I said, whoa, there’s so much stuff in here,” she said as her eyes lit up. “I would miss the granola bars.”
Kurtz said that the Food Bank can always use food donations besides the microwave pasta meals (such as Chef Boyardee). Other items include single-serve packets of granola bars, soup, crackers and peanut butter, fruit snacks, cereal, popcorn and Rice Krispies treats.
Organizers are planning for the long winter recess coming up, which means stuffing more food into the packs to accommodate those extra days. For Thanksgiving, they put in a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly along with the several other items. They aren’t sure what to include this time, but want to make sure the students have some nutritional extras. A program saying is to have students who are hungry to learn and not just hungry, Stupp said.
She joked that organizers should have started with a smaller district, since the city’s need has been great. Board President Andy Pedro thanked her for not going that way.
“We are glad you picked Batavia,” he said.
Salvation Army could also use some more volunteers, Kurtz said. Three people have been steadfast in volunteering to stuff backpacks. The organization would appreciate the efforts of anyone else willing to give up an hour or two starting at 9 a.m. every Thursday.
Kurtz encouraged anyone interested to give her a call at (585) 343-6284. To continue this effort, checks may be sent to United Way, 335 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY, 14020, or donors may designate the Backpack Program during the United Way’s annual campaign drive. Food may be dropped off at Salvation Army, 529 East Main St.