BackPack Buddies
The premise behind BackPack Buddies is simple: Many children who qualify for free breakfast and lunch at school are likely to have no food in their homes over the weekend. Our approach is somewhat different than most as we have four unique initiatives.
The traditional program
The traditional solution is to provide bags of food each Friday for children identified by school personnel as being most at risk of being hungry over the weekend. Currently, 250 children in 4 Bluffton Elementary schools received bags each week
The Box Program or BPB II
The children who participate are selected according to the same criteria as those used in the traditional program, but instead of back packs going home every Friday, the children’s families pick up boxes of food at school each month which help to supplement the whole family’s nutritional needs. Each box contains about $40 worth of shelf-stable food and is a better solution for older children and large families. Currently, over 1000 children and their families are served by this program.
Monthly Produce Program
While our Bag and Box programs have successfully provided nutritious food for a number of years, we have always known that something was missing; fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is important in promoting good health, physical growth and brain development as well as increasing a child’s focus and enhancing his ability to learn. We are currently averaging 150 baskets/month of produce a month. Beginning in June 2024 a new “arm” will be added to the Summer Program which will provide a grocery bag full of shelf stable foods to each family as they come to the Market for their fresh produce.
The Summer Program
Being concerned about the children during the summer, a unique summer program was developed. Children in both school programs receive vouchers at the end of the school year to be used at the Bluffton Farmer’s Market on Calhoun St. Each week of summer vacation, they can redeem the vouchers for fresh produce.
https://backpackbuddiesbluffton.com/