CASSOPOLIS — While Cassopolis’ Sam Adams elementary students are enjoying the last month of summer vacation, organizers of the Food Backpack Program are gearing up to begin the third year of providing six meals plus snacks, free of charge, each weekend to needy children throughout the school year.

The program, which began in January 2017, was initially sponsored by four local churches and now includes two more sponsors. The United Presbyterians, United Methodists, Penn Friends, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Christ’s Temple and Helping Hands are now working together to increase the number of students served each week from 20 in 2017 to 46 when the 2018 school year ended. 

Each sponsoring organization shops, packs and delivers six meals and snacks per student every weekend for their assigned month. Food packs are delivered on Friday mornings to the school where teachers disperse them to the children before they head home. There is no cost to the participating organizations, as food costs are covered by donations.

The need for food during school holidays, Christmas and spring break, was handled by providing food vouchers to each family unit, allowing them to get staples —   bread, eggs cereal, milk and a roast or turkey at Harding’s Supermarket, the cost of which was reimbursed by the Backpack Program.

The financial costs of the program are covered through donations from the community as well as grants from corporations and local organizations. Midwest Energy & Communications and Helping Hands in Cassopolis, Bayer International, and Cass County Michigan 100+ WomenWho Care, who have provided generous financial support.

There will be more children needing weekend food assistance in the 2018-2019 school year.

For more information on the Sam Adams Backpack Program, or to become a sponsor or volunteer, contact Barb Strlekar at (269) 501-3402 or at bstrlekar@hotmail.com. Donations may be made to the Michigan Gateway Foundation, 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI. 49107, with attention Backpack Program.