1. United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s Buddy Backpack Program 2013-14 School Nurse / Teacher Survey Results

2. “Buddy Backpacks provides a backpack filled with nutritious, nonperishable, child-friendly meal kits on weekends to food-insecure children on the Iron Range and Koochiching County.” During the 2013-14 school year, UWNEMN’s Buddy Backpack program served: A total of 740 children, providing them with meal kits for 35 weekends (more than 25,000 food kits packed and distributed!) 620 on the Iron Range in 14 school districts and at all Head Start sites 120 in Koochiching County in 4 school districts and at KOOTASCA Head Start More than 350 volunteers contributed more than 1,500 hours to packing and distributing Buddy Backpack kits

3. To evaluate the 2013-14 Buddy Backpack Program, a survey was conducted… Teachers, school nurses and administrators completed a program evaluation survey 31 individual surveys were completed

4. Results from school nurses and teachers… Answer OptionsResponse Percent Very valuable 80.6% Valuable 19.4% Somewhat valuable 0.0% Not valuable 0.0%

5. Which of the following have children enrolled in Buddy Backpacks demonstrated improvement (select as many that apply): Answer OptionsResponse Percent Academic performance 32.3% Health and wellbeing 83.9% Self-esteem 38.7% Social skills 25.8% Energy level 48.4% Classroom behavior 35.5% Attendance 19.4% Attentiveness 22.6% Through participation in Buddy Backpacks, which of the following have you observed children feeling/appearing (select all that apply) Answer OptionsResponse Percent More secure 35.5% Cared for 83.9% Relieved 61.3%

6. Do you feel that children come to school better prepared to learn on Mondays because of the Buddy Backpack food they receive? Answer OptionsResponse Percent Yes 51.6% No 6.5% I don't know 41.9% Please rate this year's Buddy Backpack food kits on the following criteria: Answer Options Exceeds expectations Meets expectations Falls short of expectations Nutritional quality25.8%74.2%0% Variety of food items38.7%51.6%9.7% Age-appropriate food items32.2%64.5%3.2% Weight of bag16.1%80.6%3.2% Quantity of food items for weekend32.2%64.5%3.2%

7. Feedback on how Buddy Backpacks impacts children… The students depend on it and will come asking for their food by the end of the week. They need it and for the older children it seems as though they feel they are taking care of their families by getting the food. They appreciate the food. They love to get their bags! There is relief on some of them going home for the weekends knowing that they will not go hungry. The kids are excited and more secure going home for the weekend knowing they will have food to eat for the weekend. The families looked for the food on Thursday to go home for the weekend. The children were not so hungry on Monday mornings. The children seemed to be able to focus better and not worry about food.

8. More feedback on how Buddy Backpacks impacts children… The students served depend on the food they receive. They are also very appreciative. This has been a wonderful program in helping some of our families to make ends meet. The children in my school really depend on the backpacks for their meals for the weekend. For some of them that is only what they have to eat all weekend. Relieves stress for the weekend. I have seen changes in some of our children who get the backpacks, they come to school on Mondays full of energy. Children really get excited on Fridays when they receive the bags. I know it gives them a sense of security over the weekend. In the past I had many children who would complain about being hungry. I did not notice this as often this year on Mondays from children who received Buddy Backpacks.

9. Suggestions for improvement… More variety Food in the summer Try to incorporate more "mainstream" brands for some of the snacks as the children will most likely be more familiar with those and might enjoy more of their Buddy Backpacks food. Providing daily after school snack would help our children. Many do not have nutritional food to hold them over until supper. Provide additional health and hygiene supplies Most said – No Changes! The program is GREAT!

10. What additional needs to the children in your school have that are not being met? Classroom snacks Winter gear Tooth brushes and toothpaste Clothing and shoes Adult volunteers to read with children who do not get support at home with homework and reading School supplies Personal care/hygiene items more often

11. Buddy Backpack Impact Stories… “Most of our students are taught that family matters are personal, so there is not a lot of verbal testimony, but the younger students are excited to receive the food and show this. The older students don't like the other students to know they have the food but are relieved to receive it.” “I had a student who was concerned about his mom going to jail and he said, ‘If she didn't waste her money buying me food, she wouldn't have to go to jail.’ When I gave him his own bag of food, he was so relieved.” “We had a family experiencing homelessness, due to many factors they did not ask for help although the youngest child came to school announcing that the family had slept in tents the previous (below freezing) night. Along with other emergency help, I am happy to say we were able quickly enroll the children in the Buddy Backpack program.”

12. What children had to say about Buddy Backpacks… “It feeds me when I have no food.” “My family does not have a lot of money so we can get other things when we don’t have to pay for this food.” “The program makes me feel HAPPY!” “It helps us through the weekend so I am not hungry.” “Sometimes my family doesn’t have a lot of food so I can share with them.”

13. United Way of Northeastern Minnesota Buddy Backpacks 229 West Lake Street Chisholm, MN 55719 info@unitedwaynemn.org www.unitedwaynemn.org