Submitted photo: A group from Pursuit Church packs meals for the Backpack Buddies program at the Souris Valley United Way office in December.
Souris Valley United Way (SVUW), an organization founded to fight for “the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community”, is working towards its goal by focusing on children’s health with the Backpack Buddies.
The organization began with a single pilot program in 2014 and has since grown to include 10 local schools. Each week, volunteers meet to put together food packages for students for the weekend. Those food packages are then discreetly placed by teachers and counselors into the backpacks of specific students who are at risk of going hungry, said Christy Miller, executive director of SVUW.
Miller said teachers, counselors and others involved do not want to single out the students who receive the assistance, so they set up the food boxes when no student is in the classroom or is on recess or in physical education class.
According to SVUW, the cost to provide food for a child for a week is $13, which includes six meals and some snacks. Those willing to help with time or money can organize a food drive or help in other ways.
To identify students for the meal packages, counselors send letters home to each student offering the services of Backpack Buddies, and parents can sign up for the program.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 479 children received meals each weekend, according to Miller. A total of 15,641 bags of food were distributed throughout the school year. During the 2022-2023 school year, the program provided meals to 382 children.
As SVUW explains, research has shown that students who are properly fed perform better and are more productive. Through Backpack Buddies, SVUW is contributing to the health and education of Minot’s youth, thereby fulfilling its mission.
