The BackPack Program, based on a national model through Feeding America, is designed to combat childhood hunger. Through this program, GBFB distributes packs of nutritious meals and snacks for children in need to take home on non-school days twice per month. As GBFB’s fastest-growing program, the BackPack Program now serves 2,070 children with 20,700 pounds of food per month across six school systems.
A typical pack contains: two juice boxes, two shelf-stable milk containers, two ready-to-eat meals, two fruit servings, two snacks, and two servings of breakfast foods. In addition, we regularly include nutrition, health, and food pantry information for children and families in distributed food packs. Our programs and nutrition teams work together to ensure that at least 80% of the food in each pack is highly nutritious, according to a national nutritional index rating.
Founded in 1981, GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and the 19th largest food bank in the nation, serving 545,000 people in need through 550 hunger-relief member agencies across eastern Massachusetts. We supply our member agencies, which range from well-known city shelters and soup kitchens to rural food pantries and youth programs, with an average of 60% of the food they distribute to their clients, totaling roughly 27 million meals per year. In addition, we operate a variety of direct distribution programs across 30 regional sites. These programs, including the BackPack Program, provide nutritious food and education to those at highest risk of hunger in our communities, in particular low-income seniors and children.
The mission of GBFB is to help end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. Even with our continued growth to meet the needs of the community, more must be done to reach all of our region’s must vulnerable citizens, including children. Reports from the U.S. Census and USDA show that food insecurity – defined by the USDA as “lacking consistent access to a nutritious, well-balanced diet” – among children in Massachusetts is increasing at an alarming pace, with 18% of children projected to be living in food insecure households this year, up from 8.8% in 2000. Of the nine counties GBFB serves, childhood food insecurity rates are highest among those where BackPack Programs are presently located, including Suffolk (19.6%), and Essex (19.8%) counties, respectively.
Research from The Journal of Nutrition, shows that household food insecurity has serious adverse effects on children. These consequences include inadequate nutrient intake, obesity, poor school performance and academic delays, as well as poor social functioning and behavior problems. By providing children in high-need areas with healthy, accessible food, the BackPack Program not only eases the burden of families struggling with competing financial obligations, it also allows for the positive development of children’s eating habits and ensures their physical and academic growth and well-being.
With your support, GBFB will help combat childhood hunger by ensuring that the following goals are met:
· Continue serving packs of nutritious meals and snacks for at least 2,070 children in need to take home from school on weekends and holidays twice per month; and
· Continue to ensure that at least 80% of the food distributed through the program is considered to be highly nutritious, as measured by a national nutritional index.
Name of Organization:The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB)
Number of Paid Staff:70 full-time, 8 part-time
Number of Volunteers:14,000
Total Organizational Expenses:$48,935,450
% of Organizational Overhead Expenses:14%
The process of distributing packs to children in need through the BackPack Program – from the packing to the distribution stage – runs efficiently and effectively as a result of GBFB’s strong relationships with participating school systems and with community volunteers. GBFB works intimately with each school system to identify children in need and to ensure an appropriate and discreet method of food distribution. In addition, we work closely with volunteer groups, both at the organizational and individual levels, to assemble and distribute packs for students. A few highlights from these partnerships are as follows:
· In the Lawrence Public Schools, we initially aimed to target packs to elementary age children. By working with the schools’ Food Services Director, we reach a majority of young children but also distribute nutritious food to 47 teenage mothers and several homeless students.
· In Lynn, we target distribution to 300 children in the K-5 Connery Elementary School. By working extensively with teachers and school administrators, we are now serving all students in the kindergarten, first, and second grades. The school’s student council members (comprised of fourth and fifth grade students) help to unload the backpacks and distribute them directly to participating students in their homeroom classes.
· At the Condon School in South Boston, the BackPack Program partners with City Year, who sends 128 participants per year to hand-deliver packs to homerooms on each distribution day. The Condon School is a universal FRL program school and GBFB serves the entire student body, totaling 780 students.
Results from the 2010-2011 school year surveys indicate very positive feedback on the BackPack Program from children and parents. Out of 698 students, 323 parents, and 12 school staff responding, 93% of children said that they liked the program, 88% of parents reported an improvement in their child’s overall wellbeing, and 71% of parents said that the program helped them extend their family’s budget. In addition, 33% of school staff reported an improvement in student concentration, and 54% of parents reported an improvement in their child’s academic performance, once again underlining the importance of healthy eating habits for a child’s positive development and wellbeing.
Children
Hunger & Nutrition
Poverty
GBFB operates a Kids Who Care volunteer program at our distribution center in South Boston. Through the Kids Who Care program, youth ages 12 and up can join us for special BackPack program packing sessions. During these sessions, youth can work with their families and friends to assemble nutritious packs of food to be distributed directly to our partner school sites. Visit http://www.gbfb.org/how-to-help/volunteer.php to learn more.
Name:Kate Goodrich
Title:Gifts Manager
Address:70 South Bay Avenue
Telephone:(617) 427-5200, x5039
Email:kgoodrich@gbfb.org
Website:www.gbfb.org