Program to provide food for children when they are away from school

MALONE — ComLinks is starting a new program to ensure more than 200 elementary-age children continue to receive nutritious meals even when they aren't in school.

The Feeding America Backpack Program will serve qualified third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Holy Family Elementary, St. Joseph's Elementary and Flanders Elementary schools, said Dick LaVigne, program director and director of community relations for ComLinks.

Each child is given a plain black backpack full of healthy non-perishable foods to eat on weekends and scheduled days out of class throughout the school year.

They also receive assorted vouchers once a week that entitle their family to a dozen eggs or a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk and other free food items from participating program sponsors and vendors, he said.

There are six different menu choices that he said will please even the fussiest child, and the meals can include canned pasta like Spaghetti-Os, a pudding cup, a toaster pastry such as a Pop Tart, assorted cans of vegetables and dry goods like macaroni or spaghetti.

The community-action agency received a grant of about $60,000 to start the program and intends to give out its first meals on Thursdays, starting Nov. 19.

Children will receive two weekends' worth of meals because Thanksgiving falls on that next distribution day when there is no school, LaVigne said.

"We identified more than 500 kids who could benefit from this, but we only have enough for about 200," he said.

The home/school coordinators at each building determined which children could qualify and sent letters home to parents to see if they were interested in having their child participate.

From the responses, the school officials will determine which kids will be issued the backpacks. But ComLinks hopes to expand the project in years to come and find more sponsors so every child in need can be helped.

28-WEEK PROGRAM
ComLinks purchased the backpacks from International Border Company, and owner Jerry Jones sold them for 75 percent off their sticker price.

"IBC was just great to us," LaVigne said, adding that the price reduction "enabled us to put even more money into food."

He said it costs about $7 per meal per child or about $200 to feed each child during the 28-week program.

Each backpack has a number inside, and a child is issued a corresponding number to keep throughout the year.

He or she brings the empty backpack to school on Mondays so it can be picked up by volunteers, re-packed with meals and re-issued to the student on Thursdays.

LaVigne said Nov. 19 is the trial-run date and that any problems or tweaks that need to be addressed will be worked out so the program can run smoothly.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or to learn more about the program may call him at ComLinks at 483-1261, Ext. 1037.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com