The Luverne BackPack Program is in its 10th year of providing at-risk children with nutritious, pre-packaged foods for weekends until school and access to meal programs resume.
This program is funded by local donations, staffed by volunteers and serves more than 200 children ages preschool to 12th grade during the school year.
In its first year in 2009, 75 students in Luverne Elementary School received meals, discretely tucked into their backpacks. That number doubled in the first two years.
Since then the program expanded to include preschool and middle school, and recently re-established a summer program to fill the gaps in nutrition for families having trouble making ends meet.
The success of the program lies in its network of loyal financial backers, like the Luverne Area Community Foundation, and reliable volunteers who pack the food bags that contain two breakfasts, lunches, snacks and one fresh fruit and fruit juice.
The meals are divided into bags and dropped into large Rubbermaid tubs to be delivered by volunteers.
Dick Smook, Keith Erickson and Laurin Carroll have been delivering totes since the program started, and they were later joined by Denny Strassburg as the program expanded.
Ten Rubbermaid totes are delivered weekly to the elementary school, three to Community Education for Discovery Time preschool students, one to Head Start and one to Little Lambs.
“It’s a good program,” Smook said. “It helps a lot of kids and families.”
He and the other three men made their final deliveries last week and their roles will be filled by new volunteers.
Donations for the Backpack Program can be directed to the Luverne Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 623, 102 E. Main St., Luverne.
Sponsorship for one student is $150 for the school year.