“Support for Sunday” backpack program for area school kids needs your help
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — For some families in the Colfax school district, the “Support for Sunday” program helps provide food security for the weekend.
The “Support for Sunday” backpack program, spearheaded by Colfax Caring Ministries, aims to alleviate the problem of food insecurity for children in the Colfax area by sending home ingredients to make meals for the family over the weekend.
“We pack 27 bags a week, and each bag includes about five pounds of food,” said Geri Bates, a member of Colfax United Methodist Church and the “Support for Sunday” program coordinator.
“There is some misinformation about this program. It has been referred to recently as ‘Sunday Snacks.’ It is not ‘Sunday Snacks’ because we furnish family meals. For Thanksgiving, it’s going to be ham and stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables,” she said.
“Right now, we are really in need of cereal. Where we buy it, they have not been able to get it. And it has to be 10 to 12 ounce packages,” Bates said.
The size of the packages is very important so that the backpacks do not become too heavy for the children to carry home and so that the backpacks are equal in what each family receives, she said.
Food list
The churches in the Colfax area have a list of the food items needed for the backpack program. Nothing can be over 16 ounces, and no glass containers.
People can check the list at their church of what is needed.
The list, which contains more than 40 different kinds of food and the sizes needed, also is included below.
“And it must be those sizes,” Bates said.
Ramen noodles, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, granola bars and microwave popcorn can be in any size box.
“When I ask for any size box, I count out a certain number of packets,” Bates said.
5 pounds
The five pounds of food that is put into each student’s backpack costs about $6, and every other week, there is a $5 coupon included for meat, produce or dairy, Bates said.
Parents sign up for the program at the beginning of the school year.
The cost per week is about $162, or nearly $650 per month.
For the nine months of the school year, the cost is nearly $6,000.
“We should have enough funds left for approximately three more months. I have written several grants this year, and I am awaiting a response,” Bates said.
The cost of the program per month does not include the $5 coupons, which could add up to $270 per month, she said.
“We have been very fortunate to have a couple of area churches and a few civic organizations help us to offset the cost of this program. We do receive some donations from individuals, too,” Bates said.
Essential volunteers
“I could not do this program if it wasn’t for Ern,” Bates said.
“Ern” is Ernie Bates, Geri’s husband.
“And Jackie Riley is my right-hand lady. She does the packing schedule, and if she didn’t do that — that’s a lot off my shoulders,” she said.
“And then there are the dedicated packers,” Bates said, adding, “We could use more people for packing, too.”
The bags are packed on Fridays, except if there is no school on a Friday, then the bags are packed on Thursday, she said.
“I try to do one meal, probably soup for lunch, or macaroni and cheese and a can of SpaghettiOs, which I know probably would not go very far for a big family. And then I do breakfast, and a package of cereal would provide breakfast. I do a menu, such as spaghetti and a fruit and vegetable,” Bates said.
“It’s a big job, but I love it. And so does Ernie,” she said.
“We do peanut butter every other week. If there is nothing else, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can fill in,” Bates noted.
Participants
The 27 bags per week represents an increase of 11 more than last year.
Bates said the number of people participating in the last few years has decreased.
A decrease in participation in the “Support for Sunday” program was likely due to the federal coronavirus pandemic support for the Food Share program.
According to information presented to the Dunn County Health ad Human Services Board, before the additional federal support expired in February of this year, the average family was receiving more than $500 per month for food, but since the additional support was discontinued, the average family is receiving less than half at a little over $200 per month.
“We were up to 72 when we did backpacks for individual children, but (that became cost prohibitive.) Now we do one backpack per family,” Bates said.
Donations
“Support for Sunday” could use your help, whether it is a food donation, a monetary donation or volunteering your time.
“Any help is appreciated to keep the program going for the remainder of the year,” Bates said.
If anyone would like to make food contributions, the donations can be dropped off at Colfax United Methodist Church, 501 Cedar Street in Colfax, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Fridays at 9 a.m.
For monetary donations, you can make the check out to Colfax Caring Ministries SFS and mail the check to Colfax United Methodist Church, 501 Cedar Street, Colfax WI 54730.
If anyone is interested in helping to pack the bags, you can contact Bates at 715-962-3386, and she will put you in contact with Jackie Riley to get on the schedule.
Food list
Here is the food list for the “Support for Sunday” program. Please note that there can be no glass containers and that the food items must be in the sizes indicated:
• Canned pink salmon – 14 oz.
• Macaroni – 16 oz.
• Mac & cheese – 7 oz.
• Canned fruit – 15 oz.
• Hamburger Helper.
• Diced tomatoes – 15 oz.
• Baked beans – 15 oz.
• Muffin mix in a packet – 7 oz.
• Pancake mix – 16 oz.
• Pizza crust mix – 8 oz.
• Jell-O pudding – 4 oz.
• Pepperoni (shelf stable) – 3.5 oz.
• Ravioli – 15 oz.
• Canned ham -16 oz.
• Creamy peanut butter – 16 oz.
• Graham crackers – 12 oz.
• Canned vegetables – 15 oz.
• Tuna Helper.
• Spaghetti sauce – 15 oz.
• Canned chicken – 5 to 12 oz.
• Raisins – small boxes.
• Pancake syrup -16 oz.
• Can of Manwich – 15 oz.
• Summer sausage (shelf stable).
• Tomato sauce – 8 oz.
• SpaghettiOs – 15 oz.
• Canned Spam – 12 oz.
• Jelly Squeeze -16 to 19 oz.
• Condensed soup -10 oz.
• Cereal -10 to 12 ounce box, no larger.
• Oatmeal packets – 8 to 10 packet size.
• Beef stew – 15 oz.
• Corn muffin mix – 7 oz.
• Mashed potatoes mix – 5 oz.
• Rice – 16 oz.
• Jell-O – 1 to 4 oz.
• Pasta Roni – 6 oz.
• Canned corn beef – 12 oz.
• Canned tuna – 5 oz.
• Ramen noodles, Swiss Miss chocolate, granola bars, microwave popcorn (light butter) – any size box.
