Tribune-Review (Greensburg, PA)

July 29, 2009 Wednesday

480 words

Westmoreland food program for children receives financial boost

Libby Cunningham

The Westmoreland County Food Bank and a discount store are hoping to end hunger in the county one bite at a time.

Necla Ragins, a member of the Salvation Army in New Kensington, said she appreciates every morsel. Her two children, ages 11 and 14, are members of the food bank's Weekend Backpack Program, which received a $40,000 grant on Tuesday through the Wal-Mart Foundation's State Giving Program.

The Weekend Backpack Program, which is feeding 160 free- and reduced-lunch students in the New Kensington and Vandergrift areas, enables the food bank to fill backpacks with easy-to-prepare foods. Pudding cups, macaroni and cheese, canned soups and other foods are given to students who may not get enough to eat on weekends.

"It strings out over a couple of days. If we're out on a Saturday, we get Oodles of Noodles as a snack before I get dinner. It really does help," Ragins said. "They put healthy stuff in there like applesauce."

The grant, which was written by Jennifer Miller, developmental director of the food bank, was brought to the attention of board member Marcy Sloneker, district manager of 11 Wal-Mart stores, including five in Westmoreland County. The food bank's integrity sold the Wal-Mart Foundation on awarding the grant, she said.

"I have to make sure that the money goes where the money goes," Sloneker said of the food bank. "What you do here is priceless."

Feeding the hungry does come at a price. The program costs the food bank $3.47 per backpack, per weekend, which comes to about $144 annually for each child. It was started a year ago and will now be able feed close to 400 kids, from kindergarten through high school, Miller said.

Members are offered sibling packs that they can take home to younger brothers and sisters who are not yet in school, Miller said.

Backpacks, used to discreetly disburse the food, also will be bought with the grant. Students are allowed to keep them to use during the school year.

"The concept is feeding kids in a subtle manner so that the children do not have to be embarrassed that they are getting help from the Westmoreland County Food Bank," food bank CEO Marlene Kozak said.

The grant will allow the food bank to make the backpack program available to students in the Derry, Jeannette and Mt. Pleasant Area school districts, Miller said.

About 50 people help to fill the packs, which are distributed with a three-day supply of foods and snacks, Miller said.

"We believe in what the backpack program accomplishes; we're getting to the kids," Miller said.

Ragins knows what the program accomplishes firsthand and offers some food for thought for parents who are considering applying for aid.

"I would definitely recommend it if you need it. There's a lot of people in need. It helps with food budgets," she said. "At least you know your kids will have a couple of healthy meals and nutritious snacks to eat."

July 29, 2009