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Self Organizing - We’ve Got Your Backpacks

Self Organizing - We’ve Got Your Backpacks

Overview
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), at least 18.5 million low-income children are expected to receive free or reduced lunches through the National School Lunch Program during the 2009-2010 school year.  These families have difficulty feeding their children on the weekend. 

Your family can help kids get the nutrition they need over the weekend so they can start the school week nourished and ready to learn by making “We’ve Got Your Backpacks.”

Goals

  • To supply children in need with nutritious food
  • To raise awareness of childhood hunger in your community
  • To develop compassion for the people you are serving

Supporting Organizations

  • Low-income schools
  • Homeless shelters
  • Food banks/pantries

Materials
Each volunteer should make 6-8 backpacks.

  • New backpacks
  • Whole grain, low sugar cereals
  • Pre-packaged fruit and applesauce
  • Granola bars or trail mix bars
  • Canned soup or pastas
  • Pre-packaged tuna kits
  • Instant rice or potatoes
  • 100% fruit juice (e.g., apple, grape, cranberry)
  • Canned vegetables including beans
  • Macaroni and cheese or other pastas

Instructions

  • Contact a supporting agency to verify they can utilize your donation of backpacks. Ask for any food restrictions or special instructions.
  • Purchase NEW backpacks.
  • Purchase an array of foods from the supplied list.
  • Fill the backpacks and deliver to receiving organization.

Additional Resources

Hunger Fact Sheet for Kids at www.HandsOnNetwork.org/FamilyVolunteering/ServiceLearning

Healthy Eating Fact Sheet for Kids at www.HandsOnNetwork.org/FamilyVolunteering/ServiceLearning

Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by Diane DiSalvo-Ryan
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen tells the story of a young boy at a soup kitchen where his Uncle Willie works. Uncle Willie considers the clients his guests, and not moochers or people looking for a handout.
The Can-Do Thanksgiving by Marion Pomeranc
Dee brings canned peas for the food drive.  She puts a yellow sticky with her name and school on her can, hoping to learn where they end up. The church that receives her class contribution sends a thank-you note and asks the children whether they would like to volunteer to serve at the Thanksgiving dinner.

Reflection
After your volunteer project, it is important for families to reflect on their experiences.  Choose one of the reflection activities from the list below.

Magic Wand – This activity uses the concept of a magic wand to help children talk about and reflect on their volunteer experience.  Have your family sit in a circle.  Tell everyone that you have just found a magic wand that allows you to grant wishes, and pose the questions, “If you could grant a wish to one person, who would it be, and what do you think he or she would wish for?”  “How do you think what we did today will make someone feel, and how do you think that is similar to granting a wish?”

Family Pictionary – Have each member of the family take turns drawing something about their volunteer experience and how they felt about it.  While each person is drawing, have everyone else try to guess what the picture represents.  After each picture is drawn, the artist should talk about the picture and why they chose to draw it.