HUNGER More than one in seven households struggled to put enough food on the table in 2008 (USDA Report) 11.1% US households classified as “food insecurity” – not having enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle

HUNGER 16.7 million children were classified as not having enough food in US (2008) Hunger harms their physical, emotional, and educational development

Poverty and Hunger in Nevada 11.3% of Nevadans live below the poverty threshold (2008) 12.4% of Nevada’s population is food insecure (2006-8) (2005-7) 18.5% of Nevada’s children are food insecure 15% of Nevada’s children live below the poverty threshold

Closer to home Douglas County 7 elementary schools 2 middle schools 2 high schools Every school in Douglas Co. has children in need.

Is There An Answer? Community helping community

Backpack Buddies Estimated 2,000 programs through out the US

What Is It? Backpack buddies is a nation-wide program that is managed locally by volunteers and is funded solely by donations – corporate and individual.

What Is Its Purpose? The program is designed to provide food for children who are most likely to experience hunger on the weekends.

How Does It Work? Students with potential need are screened. Parents of children in need are given the opportunity to receive the benefit of the program. Backpacks are packed for the weekend with mainly non-perishable food items and discreetly distributed weekly.

How Does It Operate? Through food donations and monetary donations to purchase food.

What Goes in a Backpack? ELEMENTARY: 1 canned tuna, chicken, Vienna sausage 2 100% fruit juice or boxed milk 2 canned ravioli, spaghetti or pork n beans, etc. 1 macaroni & cheese 1 canned soup or Top Ramen 2 fruit cups 1 popcorn 2 oatmeal or cold cereal in individual packages 3 snacks (trail mix, crackers & cheese or peanut butter, granola bars, fruit snacks, pudding cups)

What Goes in a Backpack? Middle School & High School: 1 can tuna, chicken, Vienna sausage 2 100% fruit juice 1 can vegetable 2 cans ravioli, spaghetti or pork n beans 2 mac & cheese 2 cans soup or Top Ramen 2 fruit cups 1 popcorn 2 oatmeal or cold cereal (individual packs) 1 hot cocoa packet 6 snacks (trail mix, crackers & cheese/peanut butter, granola bar, pudding cup, fruit roll ups/fruit snacks, nut snacks

What Backpack Buddies Is Not? Not a solution to all the nutritious needs of the children in the program. Not a program that can be managed by one person alone Not to be taken lightly…

What Does It Require? Adequate funding or provisions of food $5.00 feeds one child per weekend $20.00 feeds one child per month of weekends $ feeds one child per school year of weekends

Requirements? Commitment Teamwork Confidentiality Consistency Collaboration

Requirements? Key players in position Facilitator Recognition that everything must go through your principal / assistant Letting go of egos

Requirements? Discovering what works for your school Discarding what doesn’t work Coordination with Backpack Buddies Consortium for quality control

What Role Does Our Consortium Play? Research Building community awareness Collaboration with other non-profit community organizations Solicitation for food, money, and volunteers Communications (news articles, presentations, Chamber of Commerce) Shopping Storage

What Schools are Served or Assisted by the Consortium? CC Meneley Elementary Gardnerville Elementary Scarselli Elementary Jacks Valley Elementary (as needed) Carson Valley Middle School Pau Wa Lu Middle School Douglas High School

What Are the Consortium’s Resources? Northern Nevada Food Bank Community bank food drives Community business food drives Organization donations Individual donations Community dentists Business donations

How Can the PTO Help? Expand awareness of need Possible food drive Possible fund raiser Possible “Sponsor A Child” Program Private pledged donations – yearly, monthly Networking

What Are The Results? Test score increases 23% in math 30% in reading Behavioral issues decrease 40% Absences and tardies decrease 40%

I Am Only One I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything, But I can do something, And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the Something that I can do.

Questions? Lin Larson – Nancy Stiles – (775) – 783- Monetary contributions are to be made payable to: Partnership of Community resources (PCR), a non profit coalition (tax ID # ) with Backpack Buddies in the memo section and sent to: Lin Larson, 1295 Bridle Way, Minden, NV “Helping Feed Children in Need”