Backpacks for children program
The Moosomin Food Share is wanting to create two new programs to aid our local children and adolescents. The new programs focus on feeding kids beyond the school week are called ‘Backpacks for Children’ and ‘Milk for Children’.
Backpacks for Children will provide food that requires little to no preparation and will discreetly fit into a backpack for students in food insecure households to take home for the weekend. The program creates a point of connection for these households to access support focused on the root causes of their food insecurity. By providing backpacks for children, parents and teachers can support children who are struggling with access to nutritious food on weekends. Food insecurity leads to attention problems, poor grades, chronic health conditions, nutrient deficiencies and even depression. Feeding children has a positive impact on their academics, social interactions and health. Backpacks for Children helps to ensure that hunger is not a barrier to learning.
For the Milk for Children Program, the Moosomin Food Share will provide one litre of fresh milk for each child ages 17 and under and pregnant or nursing women bi-weekly. Infant formula is also available on request. Unfortunately, we may not always be able to meet the specific formula brand request. We also provide jars of baby food and infant cereals for all children under one year of age.
Details are still being sorted out but currently, for both programs, teachers at the schools or daycares, and/or parents can assess children’s needs and determine who would benefit from a backpack. Contents that are in the backpack are easy to eat, require minimal preparation, contain mostly non-perishables and meet provincial and district guidelines. Included in the backpack are two or three of each item (enough for a weekend): breakfast items such as cereal, oatmeal, yogurt or granola bar, easy to prepare meals such as mac and cheese, canned soup or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk or juice, fresh or canned fruit, fresh or canned vegetable and snacks. Backpacks and milk will be available every two weeks to start off. If we see a significant demand for the program, we may up the availability to every week. We will require at least one week notice of anyone wanting to sign up for a backpack or milk. Delivery options are still being discussed but there is the option of either having the backpacks delivered to the schools and daycares or getting parents and/or children to pick up from the Moosomin Food Share.
If you or your business would love to sponsor a child, please reach out to us! A taxable donation of $300.00 will sponsor one local child for an entire year. Consider giving the gift of weekend food security by sponsoring a child or donating an amount of your choice. We would also be looking for sponsors for backpacks or if you have any in great condition that you are able to donate, we would really appreciate it. Every little bit helps.
To sign up for a backpack or the milk program you can get in touch with Samantha Campbell at the Moosomin Food Share at 306-435-2633; scroll down this page to access our form or email us at sehas2018@sasktel.net; visit us at 609 Gordon Street or contact us at www.moosominfoodshare.com. We would also love to hear your feedback and encourage you to get in touch with Samantha if you know of anyone in need.
