The BackPack Program By: Kylee Beshears Arkansas state university Kylee.beshears@smail.astate.edu

What is the backpack program? You have heard about free and reduced lunches for students in America, but what happens when these students go home? For many students, the meals they get at school are all that they get. The backpack program helps students get that food.

What is the history behind the backpack program? The first backpack program came about in little rock, Arkansas in 1995 (About 20 years ago). The concern blossomed when a school nurse noticed several students struggling in school. She went to one of the food banks in Arkansas and asked if there was anything they could do because the students were falling behind in school. Today, this is a well known program that benefits so many kids around the united states every year!

WHY IS THE BACKPACK PROGRAM IMPORTANT? As educators/ future educators, we need to be concerned about the well being of each student in our class- and not only the in classroom, but outside of the classroom, as well. We can all agree that students who eat nutritious meals do better in school. Some students do not get the meals that they need when they go home and they get penalized for it at school. The backpack program provides a safe way for students to get the food they need in order to do well in school.

How does the backpack program work? SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM WILL SEND HOME FOOD WITH STUDENTS AT THE END OF THE WEEK FOR THE STUDENTS TO EAT OVER THE WEEKEND. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED “BACKPACK PROGRAM” BECAUSE FOOD IS SENT HOME WITH THE STUDENTS INSIDE OF THEIR BACKPACK SO OTHER STUDENTS WON’T KNOW ABOUT IT. THE BACKPACK HAS ENOUGH FOOD ITEMS FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, AND A SNACK FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

What are Participating schools in our area? Augusta school district Buffalo island central school district Forrest city school district Hillcrest school district Jonesboro public school district Jackson county school district Trumann school district Lawrence county school district Marked tree school district Marmaduke school district Maynard school district Nettleton school district Riverside east elementary Wynne public school district

How many students does the backpack program feed? More than 22 million students receive free and reduced lunches; however, only 450,000 students are involved in the backpack program. Through the program, food is distributed by more than 160 different food banks.

What food is in the backpack program? Peanut butter Canned chicken/tuna Low sodium vegetables Fruit (in juice) Spaghetti (no glass containers) Canned beans Cereal Whole grain snacks (Personal care items are also included)

What are useful facts about the program? $1 can feed a child 5 meals In Arkansas, it cost $262 for a child to have a weekly backpack for a year Started with just preschool and elementary, but there are currently 5 middle schools As of February 5, 2015, eight middle/high schools were on the waiting list to have this program

How can you donate? http://foodbankofnea.org/ VISIT THIS WEBSITE CLICK THE “DONATE NOW” LINK SELECT TO DONATE FOOD, MONEY, OR TIME FOLLOW THE EASY INSTRUCTIONS TO FURTHER THE DONATING PROCESS.

How do you get in contact with the local backpack program? eking@foodbankofnea.org EMAIL TO EXPAND THE BACKPACK PROGRAM TO A LOCAL SCHOOL MAILING ADDRESS: p.o BOX 2097, JONESBORO, AR 72402 CALL: (870)-932-3663 Fax: (870)-933-6639

Sources Feeding America, 2016. http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/helping-hungry- children/backpack-program/ Feed more, 2016. https://feedmore.org/food-bank/food-bank-programs/childrens- program/weekend-backpack-programs The backpack extra mile walk, 2016 http://wp.lps.org/backpack/facts/