Backpacks for Kids.

“Backpacks for Kids” is a new program the Idaho Foodbank Lewiston Facility will initiate this coming fall for the 2006-2007 school year. This program will provide food to children in need, identified by their schools they attend. In conjunction with the school and volunteer groups, donated backpacks will be filled with food each week and sent home with the children on Fridays for them and their siblings to have over the weekend. The Backpacks are returned on Mondays and again sent home with the same child on Fridays.

This is a tremendous program, which directly provides food to children in need, and their families. This is a “One Way” program, meaning that there is no funding or reimbursement of funds. The Idaho Foodbank shoulders the cost, or through generous donations and grants (such as the Twin County United Way Safety Net Grant program), funds the program. This is a unique opportunity for you or your business to have a direct impact on children in our community. You or your business, in partnership with the local schools and the Idaho Foodbank, can make a difference in the lives of these special children. Each backpack costs about $5.00 to fill with supplemental food each week. To fill 25 backpacks would be a cost of $125.00 per week, $500.00 per month, or $4,500.00 per school year. Not a cheap proposition, but the return is priceless. Our goal is to provide 100 backpacks a week for the first year.

If you or your business would be interested in donating backpacks or funding the filling of backpacks with food for these very special children, please contact Chuck Whitman at the Idaho Foodbank, at 208-746-2288 for more details.

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