MANNA/Center For Youth Backpack Program Seeks Donations
January 26th, 2010
No child should go hungry. In an effort to prevent child hunger, Hands On Hartford’s MANNA (Meals, Assistance, Neighbors, Nurturing, Advocacy) program provides food for children with a Backpack Program. This joint venture between MANNA and Center For Youth is designed to provide necessary food for elementary school children during the weekend, at times when school-provided meals are not available.
Each week, about 80 backpacks are filled with nutritious, child-friendly, nonperishable foods meant to last for the weekend. To avoid stigma, the backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on Friday afternoons and are collected the following week to be refilled.
We have been fortunate during these tough economic times to continue to receive food donations for the Backpack Program however we are still in need of items to fill the bags. The following items are regularly in great need:
Juice boxes
Granola Bars
Individual apple sauce
Individual cookie packages
Individual cheese & crackers
Instant Oatmeal packets
Individual fruit snacks/roll-ups/etc.
Individual fruit cups
Individual soups
Other Individually packaged Snacks
If you would like to make a donation or help organize a food drive in your workplace, congregation, or among your family and friends, please contact Jaimie Russell at (860) 728-3201 ext. 2009.
