Hudson Area Backpack Program N rea Backpack

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Hudson Area Backpack Program News (2016 (2016-17) History: The he Backpack program was started in 2007 when a school counselor at E.P. Rock Elementary School expressed concern to members of her church about children coming to school hungry, especially after weekends. United Methodist, Mt. Zion Lutheran, and the First Presbyterian began the program for children and families in need at Rock School. It’s been said: If you want something done, ask a church lady to do it! Today members of ten local churches col collect lect food to provide students with backpacks of food twice a month for all of Hudson’s public elementary schools. Early childhood students as well as students at Trinity Lutheran School and St. Patrick’s School also participate in the program. Mission: Our mission is to ensure that families have enough food to feed their children over the weekend when they don’t have access to school food programs. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner items are sent home in each packing. Included with each packing is a voucher for free eggs, milk, bread, and cheese redeemable at a Hudson grocery store. A typical packing would be spaghetti and sauce, cereal, canned veggies and fruit, peanut butter, crackers, and jello or pudding. All the churches have a variety of menus so famili families es don’t get the same food every packing. On Thursdays, participating students stop by at the school office or counselor’s office at the end of the school day to pick up their backpacks. In addition to fighting hunger, part of the program mission is to sshare hare information about help available in the community. Many backpack packings include notices about assistance opportunities such as free dental care through the Smile Program, free shoes and socks provided by Allina Health, the HOME meal, Operation HELP HELP’s ’s Christmas program, free holiday food offered by various organizations, the Sharing Tree school supplies program, and others. Last School Year (2015-16): On average, backpacks were provided for about 150 families; they received backpacks sixteen times over the course of the school year. In the 2015-16 16 school year, 74% of families that participated in the Backpack Program were on free or reduced lunch plans. However, participation in the program is open to anyone. School counselors and secretaries handle hand the enrollment forms and bag distribution. The program is confidential; volunteers never know names of participants.

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Finances: 2015-2016 voucher cost was a little more than $12,000. Financial donations from local organizations, churches, busines businesses, ses, and individuals cover the cost of the vouchers and a few incidental bills such as printing and mail expenses. All 36 plus members of the Backpack team are volunteers. 2015-2016 the program received a generous grant from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities C so that we were able to include toilet items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, children’s shampoo, and hand lotion in our packings. We hope to be able to continue to provide these types of items. Bethel Lutheran’s Endowment and the Women of Bethe Bethell have been consistent financial supporters of the program. The program also receives generous ongoing support from both of the Hudson Rotary groups as well as a number of fundraisers at local banks and restaurants. This past year we received a grant fro from m the Hudson Hospital Foundation that puts the program in good financial standing in case any of our funding sources should dry up. How kids in Hudson have helped: The program has partnered with two of Hudson’s elementary schools to foster a spirit of giving and held collections of items to support their fellow classmates. River Crest Elementary students collected hundreds of chap sticks, and North Hudson Elementary students collected boxes and boxes of food to add a little extra to each backpacks. They collected items like canned chicken and tuna, fruit cups, and peanut butter. NEW for 2016-2017: The most exciting news for the Hudson Area Backpack Program is that we are now a certified non-profit 501(c)3. This enables us to function independently financially from any particular church. Many groups that want to donate also appreciate the fact that we are a non-profit non group. We were also able to increase our vouchers to include 18 eggs instead of 1 dozen. This is in addition to the loaf of bread, cheese and gallon of milk (store brand) that is covered by the voucher. How you can help: 1. Monetary donations to pay for food or vouchers can be made to Bethel Lutheran Church with “Backpack Program” ram” in the memo line of checks. 2. Donate Food (see menu and details at bethelhudson.org) 3. Pray ray for the recipients of the backpacks, that their bellies will be full, that they will feel the love of Jesus and that we will be good and faithful servants to all.

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Calendar of Backpack Distributions Bethel Lutheran Church – 1st distribution of the month Thursday, Oct. 6th (1st Thursday) Thursday, Nov. 3rd (1st Thursday) Thursday, Dec. 8th (1st Thursday) Thursday, Jan. 12th (2nd Thursday) Feb. 9th (2nd Thursday) March 16th (3rd Thursday) April 13th (2nd Thursday) May 11th (2nd Thursday)

Bethel’s Shopping List Small box of pancake mix (made with water water) Small bottle of syrup (plastic bottle bottle) 16 oz. can of kid-friendly veggiess 16 oz. can of kid-friendly fruit Large can of chicken and Box of Chicken Helper OR Chicken Helper Complete Kit with chicken Box of Granola Bars

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