As students began arriving at school yesterday volunteers in Hancock worked to load buses with the 31 Backpacks big winter pack. At the start of the week the non-profit brought together people to fight food insecurity among the Keweenaw Peninsula’s children. 31 Backpacks Vice President Melissa Maki says the program has continually added students with help from school administrators to identify students in need.
That is the equivalent, it’s like 163 sets and this is a family pack so we kind of narrow down the numbers a little bit. We are assisting 350 kids locally. The amount of meals is over 16,800 meals to cover this 16-day break for them. You know we started with one school. That is the equivalent, it’s like 163 sets and this is a family pack so we kind of narrow down the numbers a little bit. We are assisting 350 kids locally. The amount of meals is over 16,800 meals to cover this 16-day break for them. You know we started with one school and when we got comfortable with that, then we had another, and then we got comfortable, and we had another. And now we’re covering Keweenaw, Houghton, and Baraga counties, so it keeps growing. Our numbers have gone up overall this year. Surprisingly, the amount has gone up. I couldn’t tell you the exact number, but it’s quite a bit more than it used to be. – Melissa Maki, Vice President and Co-founder, 31 Backpacks
Hancock Public Schools Superintendent Chris Salani was able to stop by the morning pick-up and thank volunteers for their help. He says that the 31 backpacks program has been a tremendous help to his students and their families.
That concern, that anxiety that students have gone with, perhaps in the past, when they don’t have a meal for several hours in a day or perhaps days in a row. And so this is just another means where whether they’re outside the school, outside the classroom, they have nutrition available, they can have access. Come in ready, alert. Nutrition is a huge part of young students’ growth and development and when they’re not nourished appropriately they can’t come into the classroom setting. They can’t be as productive as I know they would like to be and certainly, it presents challenges if we can’t help support them the way we need to. – Chris Salani, Superintendent, Hancock Public Schools
Somero Enterprises had several employees attend the 31 Backpacks big winter pack to help load busses with more than 16,000 meals. Employees John Nuutila and Hannah Mills say it was a great experience to volunteer with 31 Backpacks. As well as eye opening to how food insecurity impacts the local community.
I don’t know anybody in particular who gets the food from 31 backpacks, but I do know of people who are hurting out there. I’ve got some neighbors who live close by who are hurting out there, and I know they do appreciate organizations like this that definitely help them to get through the hard times. – John Nuutila, Director of Manufacturing Operations, Somero Enterprises, Inc.
It’s very eye-opening to be here and see how wide that need is, and I’m glad we’re able to help. – Hannah Mills, Senior Manager of Global Human Resources, Somero Enerprises, Inc.
Students throughout the week can pick up the 31 Backpacks grocery bags from school offices before winter break starts on Friday. For winter break 31 Backpacks delivers more family-oriented meals to students across the Copper Country. The meals help families enjoy a meal together during the holidays. Those interested in learning more about 31 Backpacks and the non-profit works throughout the school year can find more information here.
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