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 children have 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.

 

The food packs:  The program provides 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 food packs are discretely distributed to children, as best determined by the school, on the last day before weekends and all scheduled school breaks/holiday breaks. 

 

The following schools participate in this program: Bemidji School District, Blackduck Schools, Bagley Schools, Clearbrook-Gonvick Schools, Kelliher Schools, BI-CAP Head Start in Bemidji, Trek North, Voyageurs, and St. Mary's in Red Lake. 

 

Parents and Legal Guardians can contact the school secretary to learn more and to receive a registration form for their child. Teachers and school staff also identify and sign-up students who need it.

 

 

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