抓取时间:2013年08月01日 14:07:14
网址:http://lfbp.org/
标题:Food For Kids in Union County, Or | Union County Friday Back
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Contact|(541)-963-5114Home|About|Facts|Donate|Photo Gallery|NewsProviding supplemental weekend food for children in needUnion County Friday Backpack ProgramOregon currently has the highest rate of childhood hunger in thenation, with 29% of children in the state facing food insecurity.Roughly 50% of the children in Union County are eligible forfree and reduced breakfast and lunch, living in food insecure households.Food insecurity is defined as "a household that is uncertain of having or being able toacquire enough food to meet the basic needs of all household members because ofinsufficient money and other resources for food."Failure to address hunger creates consequences beyond the family dinner table.
Research has clearly demonstrated a link between food insecurity and negative
health and academic outcomes.
Hungry children: not acceptable
Children worrying about where their next meal is coming from: unacceptable
Undernourished/malnourished children: unacceptable
It is up to us to help those who are not in control of their situation. Clearly these
children are not.
They do not CHOOSE to be hungry.
Eliminating hunger is within our reach.
It is a huge goal, an important goal, an attainable goal.
What it is:
The Friday Backpack Program is an emergency fix for a problem that has defied solution.
During the school year many children rely on resources such as free and reduced meals at
school for their primary source of food and nutrition. FBP addresses the needs of hungry children at
times when other food resources are not available such as weekends and school vacations. Their
nutritional needs do not end when school dismisses for the weekend. This supplemental food helps
sustain hungry children over the weekend so they return to school ready to learn.
Food insecurity has a marked impact on children’s health and academic progress. The Friday Backpack
Program hopes to address this.
Who we are:

The program consists of an Advisory Board and about 32 volunteers from the community.
We have non-profit, 501(c)3 status.
What we do:

Currently we are serving children at all the elementary schools in Union County.
Through donations of food and money from the community, volunteers use this to prepare food
packs of nutritious,  child friendly food in non-descript bags that are delivered to each school involved. 
Personnel at each school discreetly distribute the bags to the identified children, those determined to be the
most in need by the school staff,  before the weekend or holiday vacation.  The names of the children are held
confidential. Friday Backpack members do not have that information.
We give presentations to civic groups, churches and businesses to inform the community of this
program. With their permission, Friday Backpack bins are left at different locations in town.
Along with the baskets are copies of the lists of food we use, following USDA recommendations; child-
friendly, single-serving, shelf stable, easily opened and prepared food donations.