How can a child focus on solving a math problem or memorizing a new word in school when they are trying to ignore the persistent pangs of hunger?
Teachers and counselors have found that in some instances, when Monday morning comes, they are forced to compete against hunger for the attention of their students. Unfortunately, many school children in our community go home to little or no food on the weekends. The RIFA Snack Backpack ministry works to fill this gap by providing kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare, nutritious food items for children who are at risk of going hungry on Saturdays and Sundays.
This ministry began in 2005 by serving 25 children at one elementary school. Today, RIFA provides Snack Backpacks to approximately 1,000 children at 14 elementary schools each week during the school year (37 weeks). Each Snack Backpack provides a child with six meals and two snacks and costs approximately $5.25. The yearly cost per child in the Snack Backpack program is $195.
Every Snack Backpack contains these items:
- Ravioli (single-serve with pop-tops)
- Macaroni & Cheese (individual packets/bowls)
- Chicken Noodle Soup (with pop-tops)
- Oatmeal (single-serve packs)
- Pop-Tarts
- Ramen Noodles (chicken or beef, bags not cups)
- Apple Sauce (with foil lids)
- Microwave Popcorn (individually wrapped)
Want to donate food items for Snack Backpack and School Food Pantries?
Check out our Amazon list of most needed items.
School Food Pantries
RIFA currently stocks food pantries at nine local schools, plus the Jackson-Madison County School System Central Office. The pantries were developed as a method of maintaining the older students’ dignity and creating a more discrete distribution method. School-based pantries are located on the grounds of the school to provide an easily accessible source of food assistance to students who are food insecure. The food pantries are currently located at three local colleges, five local high schools, one local middle school, and the JMCSS Central Office. Our goal is to continue to expand the program to serve more schools in the Jackson-Madison County School System.
For a full list of school food pantry locations, please contact Abby, our Community Outreach Coordinator, at aallen@rifajackson.org.
