Ringgold to implement backpack food program with help from community group
NEW EAGLE – A new weekend backpack program to provide food to students in need will be implemented in Ringgold School District through a joint program with a community organization, the school board learned Wednesday.
The program will be a joint effort between the district and Love First Inc. in Donora and will provide food for the weekend to children who are on the free or reduced-price lunch program.
Shelly Hendricks, Love First secretary-treasurer, said the Feeding with Love Backpack Program will provide enough food to ensure a child receives adequate nutrition over the weekend.
Hendricks said she and Danielle Doerfler-Maggert, co-president, were motivated to start the organization after their discussions at work and through their experience in fundraising and volunteering with the Harvest Bounty Program.
“Almost from the moment we met, we talked about starting a nonprofit,” Doerfler-Maggert said.
In order to sign up for the program, parents of the qualifying student must fill out a form and return it to the district.
Hendricks said the program will start at Ringgold South, where the largest need has been recognized, and will then be implemented throughout the district. The program will include the healthiest options possible, such as fresh fruit or fruit cups, bread and other canned items that are easy to prepare. “A healthy body is a healthy mind,” Hendricks said.
The food will be prepared by Love First Inc. on Thursdays after school and will be either stored at the school or brought to the school for distribution on Friday mornings. Hendricks said in order to keep the program confidential, teachers will be given the food to distribute discreetly to students.
Hendricks said the group is still working out the details for donations and will be working with the district on fundraising efforts.
The program should begin in October, she added. For more information or to make a donation, call Love First Inc. at 724-823-0581.
Dr. Karen Polkabla, district superintendent, said Love First Inc. has submitted its guidelines for the program to the district, which will have them reviewed by the solicitor. “We are very eager to get started with them,” Polkabla said.