Proper nutrition … all weekend long
Story via David Johnson,
Proper nutrition is vital for school-age children, and the need to eat healthy food doesn’t end when the weekend rolls around.
A pair of Blessings in a Backpack programs serving the River Valley and New Buffalo school districts have stepped up to fill the gaps for those in need.
Linnea Berg, a River Valley Blessings in a Backpack board member, said the effort is in its fourth year and provides take-home food packages weekly when school is in session for about 68 students in preschool through high school.
“We’ve got about 14 high school kids we’ve included this year, so as the kids go through the system, we keep them in the program,” she said.
Helping pack the special Christmas break packages for the River Valley Blessings in a Backpack program were, from left, Linnea Berg, Sharon Phillips, Karen Bednar, Nancy Davis, Bob Wagner and Connie Dziepak.
A “backpack” – food is delivered to the schools in grocery bags – typically includes breakfast items such as cereal, instant oatmeal, fruit, macaroni and cheese, protein such as canned chicken or tuna, peanut butter, ramen noodles and some “fun stuff” like candy or a cracker, and a cheese pack.
Volunteers, last month, packed special Christmas vacation packages filled with extra food, Harding’s gift certificates and even a surprise from the local Toys for Tots effort.
“This is the third year (to include a toy for Christmas) and it just lights up the kids – they’re so happy,” Berg said.
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