Feeding South Dakota Summer BackPack Program

SIOUX FALLS, SD – 05/17/11 –

Feeding South Dakota (FSD) is launching a campaign to raise $25,000 in order to help meet the need for a Summer BackPack Program (BPP). Each weekly backpack costs an average of $3.85 and will be provided for 13 weeks during the summer. The Sioux Empire United Way has provided partial funding for this program, but in order to feed 750 students for the summer, an additional $25,000 is needed. The cost of sponsoring one child for the summer is $50.

The Summer BackPack Program begins May 27. On each Friday of the summer, between noon-1 p.m., students can go to one of the following locations to pick up a food package: Terry Redlin Elementary, Laura B. Anderson Elementary, Anne Sullivan Elementary, Hayward Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, the Food Service Center, the Bowden Youth Center, or the YWCA South. The food bags are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no qualifications for the children to receive the items, but they must be present to receive the bags.

Each sack contains 13 items. Every week, the bag includes two juice boxes, one packet of cereal, one packet of oatmeal, and two fresh apples. Entrée items that are on a rotating basis include canned chicken, macaroni and cheese, beef stew, a jar of peanut butter, ravioli, and green beans. Snack items, including pretzels, beef jerky, granola bars, fruit cups, pudding, popcorn, fruit snacks, animal crackers, etc., are  also part of the five-week rotating menu.

The Summer BackPack Program was created to fill the hunger gap on the weekends when children do not have access to the summer feeding programs. The BPP depends on the generosity of individuals and business donations, grants, foundations, and civic groups for the majority of its funding.

Anyone interested in supporting a child for the Summer BPP can donate online at www.feedingsouthdakota.org or send a check to 3511 North First Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. If you need additional information, email Allison Struck at Allison@feedingsouthdakota.org or call 335.0364.

# # #

About Feeding South Dakota

Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest charitable hunger relief organization. Their mission is to eliminate hunger in the state’s numerous communities. FSD secures and distributes donations of quality, nutritious food, along with other surplus and purchased foods to more than 500 charitable organizations across the state. These organizations then provide the food to individuals who are “food insecure” through on-site feeding programs, emergency food pantries, after school programs, and mass distribution programs. 

#   #   #