South Dakota's public schools provide free or reduced meals to children at risk of hunger through the National School Lunch Program. The program effectively combats hunger during the school week, but it does not address the needs of children when school is not in session. This is where Feeding America and Feeding South Dakota fill an important void with the national BackPack Program.
This program provides at-risk children with nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods during weekends and holidays when school is not in session. Food is distributed through the schools because of their relationship with students, easy access and safe environments. Feeding South Dakota distributes 3,395 packages of food each week to children in the Sioux Falls school district and nine surrounding communities. Through this program, over 5,000 children are given a greater opportunity to learn and grow.
Unfortunately, the demand for these Backpacks of food exceeds the supply, and many children in need continue to go hungry on the weekends. Because of this, the Sioux Valley Chapter of Credit Unions decided to raise funds for this cause with their annual golf tournament that was held last summer.� Over 70 golfers participated in the tournament and the resulting $5,000 in funds raised provided 34 local students with a backpack of food every weekend for the entire school year.
South Dakota's public schools provide free or reduced meals to children at risk of hunger through the National School Lunch Program. The program effectively combats hunger during the school week, but it does not address the needs of children when school is not in session. This is where Feeding America and Feeding South Dakota fill an important void with the national BackPack Program.
This program provides at-risk children with nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods during weekends and holidays when school is not in session. Food is distributed through the schools because of their relationship with students, easy access and safe environments. Feeding South Dakota distributes 3,395 packages of food each week to children in the Sioux Falls school district and nine surrounding communities. Through this program, over 5,000 children are given a greater opportunity to learn and grow.
Unfortunately, the demand for these Backpacks of food exceeds the supply, and many children in need continue to go hungry on the weekends. Because of this, the Sioux Valley Chapter of Credit Unions decided to raise funds for this cause with their annual golf tournament that was held last summer.� Over 70 golfers participated in the tournament and the resulting $5,000 in funds raised provided 34 local students with a backpack of food every weekend for the entire school year.