Kids to get backpacks with food

How many children in Boundary County go home at the end of the week and don’t receive another meal until they return to school?

A new and extraordinary group that call themselves BoCo, want to help make the answer to that question, none.

A program at Trinity Church, called Trinity’s Tomorrow’s, recognized Naples school as having a high percentage of children who receive reduced or free lunches. Their vision was that Naples School become the pilot project for BoCo.

One of BoCo’s organizers, ShirleyAnderson, said 77 percent of Naples school students qualify for reduced lunch program.

With current economic conditions more kids than ever may face going home over the weekend only to receive their next nutritious meal when they return to school on Monday.

Anderson along with fellow BoCo members, organize, pack back packs and deliver 72 meals to 24 children a week at Naples Elementary School.

This includes three meals a day for three days, seven pounds of food and drink. The backpacks are  delivered to students at school on Thursday before they are sent home for the long weekend.

The group has a contract with 2nd Harvest in Spokane, which initiated the backpack program. It helps fill the nutritional gap for kids who’s families need a little extra help. 

BoCo works with 2nd Harvest and purchases the food from them at cost.  2nd harvest stores, assembles the food into plastic baggies, and delivers it to Sandpoint where a BoCo member picks it up.

The BoCo members each week, pack the food into the backpacks on Wednesdays from the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church. The backpacks are then delivered to Naples School for distribution to the student.

The cost is $6.11 per child, per weekend.

Some of the money comes from grants but BoCo can also use community donations.

Anderson is a resident of Naples and her husband went to school there, as did her children and now her grandchildren. 

“We work closely with Naples school, in particular secretary Linda Lee, who have been very helpful in helping target those children who may need a little help,” said Anderson.

Although 3/4 of the need for this year has been met the organization would like the community to be aware of the program and make donations.  Money donations will help purchase the food and help BoCo reach its goal of adding more Boundary County schools to their program.

The three days of food includes three of each and all shelf ready,  cereal,  lasagna, pasta and meat sauce, applesauce, fruit cup,  crackers, milk box, juice box and even plastic spoons. 

“The idea here is that if a child is home alone they don’t require cooking, they are ready to eat,” said Anderson.

The ravioli and spaghetti items are easy open plastic containers, no sharp edges for a child to harm themselves on, and the milk does not require refrigeration.

Families who would like to participate in the BoCO Backpack program can fill out an application. Anderson said there is a waiting list.

BoCo can also use more members. Currently there are 10 active members and other members who help on a less active level. 

BoCo invites everyone in the community to help celebrate the beginning of this wonderful program. They will introduce the program to Boundary County, it all starts at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church, at 6784 Cody St.

Anyone interested in helping BoCo can call Shirley Anderson at 267-3068.