Backpack Forum

Program Overview

The mission of the BackPack Program is to meet the needs of hungry children by providing them with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations when other resources are not available.

Program Objectives are to:

- Provide nutritious, healthy food to children at-risk of hunger for preparation and consumption at their place of residence. - Distribute food discreetly in easily accessible and safe environments - Involve additional resources and partners in order to assure sustainability of the program. A BackPack Program must meet the following standards:

1.Approved agency in good standing with the Montana Food Bank Network that comply with all applicable Federal and local statutes, ordinances and regulations. 2.Healthy, nutritious food must be distributed to children free of charge. 3.Backpacks must be provided a minimum of once a month during the school year. 

MFBNs Backpack Stories

In late 2007 the Montana Food Bank Network approached DeSmet School for their interest in the Backpack program. Their principal, Rose Woodford, was very excited about the possibility of feeding her students over the weekend.

The staff of MFBN presented the program to the student council at DeSmet in December of 2007 and their enthusiasm was contagious. They proceeded to present the program to the student body and decided on a January 2008 start.

At DeSmet it was decided to incorporate the entire student body into the program and have the assistance of the Student Council in assembling the bags and distributing them to the students. On Thursdays they would gather the items delivered by MFBN and create the bags of nutritious food to be distributed on Fridays at the end of the day. We have continued this program with the expansion into 4 more Elementary schools in Missoula. Each program is run according to the individual school’s needs and determined by the Backpack Coordinator and Principal.

Statements from participating agencies and parents.

"My kids eat Breakfast and lunch at school. This helps for it’s so hard to have enough food for 3 healthy meals everyday. This program helps so much. Thank you so much." Parent at DeSmet

"Principals continue to tell me what a blessing it is and how they never realized there was such a need until your group filled it. The coordination and distribution has been simple and seamless." Valerie Addis - Missoula County Food Distribution Manager

"This program has helped us with the knowledge they (students) have food on the weekends where we are a bit short of money. It is getting harder to provide these days. Thank you for everything." Parent at DeSmet