Backpacks for Kids

BECAUSE HUNGER DOESN’T TAKE A BREAK ON THE WEEKENDS

Backpacks for Kids provides food for children at Rock Springs Elementary, North Lincoln Middle and High, and Lincoln Charter to have on weekends and school breaks and holidays. We provided about 4,500 meals in 2022 alone. Volunteers pack and deliver food to the schools.

 For more information, contact Julie Doss at julieadoss@gmail.com or Jamie Sidler at jsidler07@hotmail.com.

To volunteer, click here to access our Signup Genius or here to donate food through our Amazon Wishlist!

How else can you help?? - Organize a food drive, Shop for Food, Pack or deliver food, or donate money!

*Please make checks to:  Denver United Methodist Church (memo Backpacks for Kids) or donate online at denverumc.org/giving (memo Backpacks for Kids)

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Backpacks for Kids invites you to join with us and help feed local, hungry school children on weekends and school breaks. The children served in our program qualify for free or reduced lunch and the food-filled backpacks are distributed through the school guidance counselor and/or social worker.

We wish to partner with community groups such as: Schools, Churches, Businesses, Clubs or other Service organizations to support the Backpack Program.

Currently, the program serves kids at Rock Springs Elementary, North Lincoln Middle School, North Lincoln High School, and Lincoln Charter Schools in Denver & Lincolnton.

Each Weekly Backpack Contains:

·2 Breakfasts

·2 Lunches

·3 Dinners

·5 Snacks

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It may surprise you to learn that despite our surroundings, hunger and poverty are a reality today, even here in Lincoln County. There are approx. 900 children in Lincoln County living at or below the poverty level.This represents 15% of our child population. *Info from: http://www.census.gov

Recent studies have demonstrated that nutrition affects students’ thinking skills, behavior, and health, all factors that impact academic performance.  Nutrition also indirectly impacts school performance. Poor nutrition can leave students’ susceptible to illness or lead to headaches and stomachaches, resulting in school absences.

Research has also established a link between nutrition and behavior. Studies have found that access to nutrition, particularly breakfast, can enhance a student’s psychosocial well-being, reduce aggression and school suspensions, and decrease discipline problems (Brown, Beardslee, & Prothrow-Stith).