The Kiwanis Club of Caribou has expanded its Backpack Meals Program to Caribou High School.
The club has supported the program for grades K-8 at the Caribou Community School and is pleased to be able to expand support to the high school.
The effort helps mitigate food insecurity by providing meals to students in need. Students who are experiencing food insecurity at home receive a backpack filled with easy-to-prepare meals for the weekend, when they are unable to access the meals provided at school. The students return the backpacks at the start of the following week so they can be reused.
The program is coordinated by the school’s social workers and is structured in a way that is confidential to protect the students’ privacy. The Kiwanis Club provides the funding for the program, and members purchase the food from local businesses and deliver it to the school as needed.
“Hunger is a very real impediment to learning in school. Our Kiwanis Club has recognized that food insecurity and hunger are a real problem in our local area and our club has focused much of its programming and fund raising to try to help mitigate this issue,” program coordinator Mary Beth Francis said.
“Supporting this program also fits with our focus on serving youth and complements our other school-based programs, such as sponsorships of the Key Club at the high school and the Builders Club at the community school,” she said.
The club appreciates the support it receives from its local business sponsors and all community members. Any community members interested in further supporting these types of programs could consider joining the club by reaching out to any Kiwanis member or by emailing CaribouKiwanis@gmail.com.
Visit the club at facebook.com/CaribouKiwanisClub.
