Biffy

Biffy
2010-09-16 17:01:42 (UTC)

First Day

Well, where do I start. Today has been a great day and it's
only 11:40am. Life has been pretty crazy the past year and
half but seems to be getting to a somewhat normal pace. I
was inspired this weekend to get more information on a
program called "Backpacks for Kids" this program reaches
out to schools to help kids who live in poverty or might
look forward to school for there meals for the week. Case
and point, Raven, Chuck and Kane. They come from a family
of six children but only the three of them live with their
grandmother. Their grandmother works as a nurses aid and is
able to provide only the basics. They have been coming over
once a week for dinner and everyother week mowing my grass
as payment. I shared with some friends how I was helping
them out but in turn got my grass cut. They mentioned this
program and from then on I have been hooked to find out
more. I looked up the program online and turns out it's run
through Feeding America. I called the local food banks that
help with the program to see how to get one started. I'm
hoping to get one started in Albany preferablly at Albany
Upper Elementary. I spoke with the Tanya who is over the
Backpack for Kids program at the food bank in New Orleans
but they service Tangipahoa and not Livingston. She was
able to give me a TON of information though. If things go
well with Albany I would consider trying to start one in
Hammond as well. Maybe at Hammond Westside Elementary.
Tanya gave me the number to the food bank in Baton Rouge.
My contact over there was Charlene. Charlene gave me great
information as well. I learned a lot about what needed to
be done. This program if it goes well could help a lot of
children and families in need. I'm excited to talk to Mrs.
Debbie who is the principal at Albany Upper Elementary.
This is a program that will be able to help her students
and not require a ton of work from them. I'm hoping to get
volunteers including myself to hand out the back packs when
they come in. Charlene had explained that the first time
the kids recieve the food it will be in the backpacks. The
kids will then return the bags on Monday and they will be
held at the school. Then, on Wed. or Thurs. the food bank
will deliver the food for that weekend. It will require
volunteers to put the food in the bags to make sure they
reach the students. Depending on how much money I raise is
how many kids will be fed. The cost to help one child for
the whole school year is $350. I was told that local banks
are usually great in helping with programs like these. If
i'm only able to help out a few I will still feel as though
I accomplished my goal.




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