The Manna Food Project will soon launch their new Food 4 Kids Backpack Program which will provide nourishment to school children who are in need of food for the weekend.
Grants for the start-up of the program have been generously received from Char-em United Way Emerging Needs Fund, Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Rotary Charities, Great Lakes Energy Peopleʼs Fund, and Olesonʼs Foundation.
Over 600 bags of food have been packed with shelf-stable foods such as cereal, dried fruit, peanut butter, mac & cheese, juice, and milk. Manna has targeted six elementary schools throughout Antrim, Emmet, and Charlevoix counties to be part of the pilot program.
Manna Executive Director Kathy Hart commented on the start-up program. “Backpack programs have been shown to be very successful throughout the country. There have been noticeable differences in childrenʼs grades when they are no longer coming to school hungry on Monday. Working with the staff at the various schools, it will be determined which students would benefit most from the initial program. The backpacks will be distributed on Friday to children who are deemed ʻchronically hungryʼ. The students will return the backpacks on Monday for re-use the following week. Our goal is to make this program available to any student in our service area who might be hungry”.
Ms. Hart also noted a need for volunteers and donations specific to the program. Volunteers are being recruited to pack the food at the Manna warehouse and also to deliver the backpacks to area schools.
Financial contributions specific to this program are also being accepted.
Last year the Manna Food Project helped to distribute over 2 million pounds of food to families in need throughout Emmet, Antrim, and Charlevoix counties. Children in America are surprisingly and tragically affected by hunger and poor nutrition, which can negatively affect their ability to learn and concentrate in school.
The Manna Food Project is a non-profit corporation operating as a food pantry and distribution warehouse. As a warehouse, the Manna Food Project works with 34 pantries and agencies throughout Emmet, Charlevoix, and Antrim Counties.
For additional information on becoming involved with The Manna Food Project and the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, please visit the Manna website at www.mannafoodproject.org.
