Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
By Ann Powers
Editor
MINERAL WELLS – A shorter school week means a longer weekend. For students who are food-insecure that could pose a serious problem – not enough to eat.
However, Backpack Buddies is stepping up to accommodate Mineral Wells ISD’s new four-day school week with enough meals for at-risk students to last through the extended weekend.
The nonprofit has been helping food-insecure children within the district since 2009. Backpack Buddies provides free food for kids when meal programs are not available.
Approximately 15 volunteers gather every Wednesday night at the First United Methodist Church to fill large Ziplock bags with food and pack them in bins for schools to deliver to students Pre-K through junior high. Where they used to pack food items for six meals to cover a traditional two-day weekend, Backpack Buddies now supplies nine meals.
“Children who don’t have enough to eat are likely to have developmental problems,” said Judy Jackson, Backpack Buddy coordinator. “They’re more likely to drop out of school, they don’t make as good as grades, they have all kinds of health problems and I just want them to know somebody cares.”
The group has also upped its efforts to stock a care closet at Mineral Wells High School with extra food for students to eat during the week or take home with them.
“I have a love for the kids and I know there’s several kids who don’t have food, love and support other kids do,” said Lynn Harris, Backpack Buddy volunteer. “And that weighs heavy on my heart.”
In addition, the district offers a free meal on Fridays, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Houston Elementary School. Mineral Wells ISD serves free breakfast and lunch to all schoolchildren during the school week, regardless of ability to pay.
When the district moved to the four-day school week for the 2022-23 academic year, officials asked Backpack Buddies to help feed at-risk kids for the extra day added to their weekends.
“Our relationship with Backpack Buddies goes way back and we’re wanting to strengthen it even more this year,” said David Wells, Mineral Wells ISD food services director.
Jackson said Backpack Buddies is able to meet that request thanks to generous support and donations from community organizations, churches, individuals and fundraisers. First United Methodist Church does not charge Backpack Buddies any rent to operate there and even the Ziplock bags and bins are donated.
“We have no overhead so every donation that comes in goes 100% to food,” said Jackson. “This is a community effort for our kids and that’s what it has always been. One thing I’ve learned from Backpack Buddies is how generous people are.”
According to Feeding America:
- Children facing food insecurity are sick more often and more likely to be hospitalized.
- They can suffer growth impairment that precludes them from reaching their full physical potential.
- They can incur developmental impairments that limit their physical, intellectual and emotional development.
- Food insecurity negatively affects a child’s ability to concentrate and achieve academically.
- Children facing food insecurity often struggle with social and behavioral problems.
- Workers who experienced childhood food insecurity often face physical, mental, emotional and social disadvantages to performing effectively on the job.
