Sara Stadem | Editor
Both Tri-Valley and West Central School Districts help students in need by participating in the national Backpack Program that is through Feeding America and Feeding South Dakota.
“This program provides at-risk children with nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods during weekends and holidays when school is not in session,” stated Tri-Valley’s school counselor Whitney Burroughs. A yearly partnership agreement is signed with Feeding South Dakota to be able to participate in the program, according to Burroughs.
Feeding South Dakota distributes more than 3,200 packages of food each week to children in the Sioux Falls School District and 10 surrounding communities, Burroughs explained. “Through this program, more than 5,000 children statewide are given a greater opportunity to learn and grow,” she stated.
West Central school counselor Kelsi Buckmiller verified that the West Central School District has been a part of the Backpack Program for well over ten years. Burroughs also confirmed that Tri-Valley has been a part of the program long before she started at the school and she is in her third year at Tri-Valley.
According to both Burroughs and Buckmiller, the program is anonymous and both school districts send out notifications at the beginning of the school year to families in the districts. The notifications explain to the families what the program is, that it is available and what they need to do to be a part of it.
Registration is not just limited to the beginning of the school year and there is also support inside the classrooms that help identify those that might need some additional assistance. “We often have times that new families transfer to our district and teachers are really good about letting me know if students and families could benefit from being a part of this program,” Burroughs stated. She continued, “Families can face challenges and struggles at any time and as things change for them, they can get set-up with the program at any time.”
With the long holiday break, families could face additional struggles. When asked what families do during the extra time away from school, both schools confirmed additional help is available.
Burroughs stated, “The Backpack Program sends food bags home with students before the winter break but they do not receive them while on break.” She continued, “During the spring when we were learning at home virtually, the Tri-Valley staff helped to get food boxes to families in need each week. Families were able to sign-up for that through communication sent out by the school superintendent.”
Some of the Humboldt and Hartford churches put together holiday meals for families in the West Central School District to help out during the extra break, according to Buckmiller. She stated, “We are super thankful for our continuing partnership with Feeding South Dakota and all they are doing for our students!”
If you would like to learn more about Feeding South Dakota or know someone in need, you can go to https://feedingsouthdakota.org/our-programs/childhood-hunger/backpack-program.