As we start 2018, the Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association is reviewing the past events and projects that have been completed to determine continuation or expansion of these endeavors. New ideas to help our Westside neighbors are also being sought. One the WNBA projects I had not experienced and wanted to know more about is the Westport School Backpack Program.
At one of our WNBA meetings, I talked to Steve Sischo, who is the WNBA representative for the Backpack Program at Westport School and he also serves as the treasurer for the WNBA. In an effort to learn more about this great project, I asked Steve if I could tag along with him while he served this function at Westport and see firsthand what the Backpack Program is and how it helps our neighborhood youth.
One Friday morning I met Steve at Westport School to begin my morning of education to learn how the WNBA participation in the Backpack Program helps our neighbors. Steve had already arrived and was busy moving boxes of food supplies to the preparation area to begin sorting food items into individual lots for distribution. Steve explained that the boxes containing the food had been obtained from the Ozarks Food Harvest, which donates the food for the Backpack Program.
Steve paused from his work to explain what the Backpack Program is about. Steve related that the staff at Westport School talks with and observes behavior of students to make a determination if a food need exists.
Another factor is the student qualifying for free lunches. Those students who are determined to live in a food insecure environment are recommended for the Backpack Program. Steve explained that these students in need receive nourishing meals at school during week days, but these meals are not available for them on weekends when school is not in session.
Due to the absence of these meals, the Friday Backpack Program helps to reduce the possibility that the student will experience hunger while away from school. Steve acknowledged that the food shared in the Backpack Program will not suffice for a nourishing meal, but it helps to supplement the at home food supply.
Steve said his day starts with a list of the number of food lots to be prepared. The note shows the name of the teacher and the number of students in that classroom to receive food in the Backpack Program that Friday. The names of the students participating in the Backpack Program are known only to school staff. Steve explained that the number of students receiving the food packs varies from Friday to Friday due to students changing schools or being absent that Friday. On this Friday the number of individual food packs to be prepared were 58 for the elementary school and 16 for the middle school.
Steve started the process by opening boxes containing food items. The items were removed from the boxes and sorted into individual lots. Once the lots had the complete number of items, they were placed into bags. This process was repeated until the number of food packs was completed. While loading the bags, Steve shared stories that students had expressed to him. While Steve does not know the names of students in the Backpack Program, they see him deliver the food to the class rooms and know he puts together the food packs. In their conversations with Steve they express their appreciation for the food and the ability to share with their families.
When completed, the individual bags were loaded on a cart and the delivery started. We walked down the hallways to the classrooms. At each classroom Steve checks the list for the number of Backpack Program students. The number of bags containing the food are removed from the cart and delivered to each classroom teacher for distribution to the students in need. This process is repeated until the number of recipients on the list is filled.
After all the food packs are delivered to the teachers, Steve returns to the preparation area to break down the empty boxes and prepare for the next Friday delivery.
One might look at the quantity of the food provided in the Backpack Program and say that the food given is not very much, but to the food insecure student receiving the supplement it means the difference between eating or going without.
The WNBA is proud of Steve’s effort to volunteer for this program and commends him on this commitment to be at the school every Friday morning to fulfill this need. Steve said that his commitment to the Backpack Program is derived from helping the youngest of our neighbors who benefit from this program.
Do you have the desire to make a difference in our Westside neighborhood? Come to a WNBA monthly meeting and learn how you can help your neighbors and your neighborhood. The WNBA meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Westport Park Apartments Community Room, 250 N. Hilton.