BoCo Backpacks looking for community help

March 29, 2015

The school year is drawing to a close, and the volunteers in the Boundary County Backpacks are in the planning stages for the weekend supplemental food program for school age children for the school year 2015-16. For the current school year, the program is serving a total of 120 students at Naples, Mt. Hall, Valley View and Headstart. Boundary County's four day school week means three days when students who qualify for free and reduced meal programs may have little or no food. The weekend food kits, purchased from Second Harvest, include nutritionally balanced, ready to eat portions. The cost per student is $5.80 per week, for seven pounds of food. The annual budget for food kits for 120 students is $25,000. Currently the organization needs $15,900 to meet the goal to continue to support 120 children. The program was funded this year by generous support from Inland Northwest Community Foundation Equinox Fund, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants program, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Boundary County Youth License plate fund, and individual donors, businesses, and organizations. All transportation, storage, distribution, and administration are donated by individuals, businesses, and organizations. BoCo Backpacks is a community wide volunteer organization, sponsored by the Trinity Lutheran Church. Donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church/BoCo Backpacks, 6784 Cody, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Shirley Anderson at 208-267-3068.