BackPack Buddies  Program

This program provides a weekend backpack of nutritional food to elementary school children who receive free or reduced price school lunches. Approximately 765 children at 17 elementary schools in Midland County participate in the program.  At school on Friday, these students receive their backpacks filled with food items.  On Monday, the backpacks are returned.  The food is provided through a program with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.  School staff members and volunteers fill the backpacks each week.  The cost of this program for the 2008-2009 school year is approximately $72.00 per student.