Brookings Backpack Project - Latest Blog Entries

Now Hiring-Volunteer Coordinator

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:35:00 -0600

The Brookings Backpack Project is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator. The Brookings Backpack Project assists children in Brookings, SD, who may not have enough food to eat at home by providing them with easy-to-prepare weekend meals and snacks throughout the year.

The position of Volunteer Coordinator is a part-time contractor position. To download a copy of the Volunteer Coordinator job description, please click here.

To download an application, please click here.

To apply for the position, submit an application and resume by February 17, 2012 either electronically to bbpinbox@gmail.com, or through the mail to Brookings Backpack Project, c/o BUCC, 828 8^th St S, Brookings, SD 57006. The application is also available at Job Service and some area churches. If any additional assistance is needed, please contact April Flemming at kayeflemming@yahoo.comor 605-693-4611.

Backpack Program Scales Back

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:03:00 -0500

On October 6, 2011 on Inside KELOland, hunger needs in the Sioux Empire were discussed. The purpose of the Sioux Falls Backpack program is the same as that of our local Brookings Backpack Project. For the first time ever, the Sioux Falls Backpack program had to scale back the number of backpacks distributed due to a decrease in funding and donations.

The number of Brookings students participating in BBP continues to rise. As of October 2011, the total is 392. By comparison, BBP began serving 80 children in September of 2009. By the end of the first school year, in May of 2010, we were serving 253. During the 2010-2011 school year, BBP served 328 children.

Brookings Backpack Project does not ever want to have to turn down a child from receiving a food bag. Please remember BBP, especially as we head into the winter months with increased heat and fuel costs for families.

You can view the archived video file at: http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=111006backpack.

Child Poverty Rate in U.S. Nearing 25%

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:09:00 -0500

According to a recent 60 Minutes segment, the poverty rate for American children will soon hit 25%. These children, the report noted, will be "the largest American generation to be raised in hard times since the Great Depression.”

Feeding America notes that the 8 million jobs lost between December, 2007, and June, 2009, (not to mention losses since then) have dissolved the line that may have existed between middle-income and low-income individuals and families. Hard-working Americans who had been comfortably middle-class saw their savings dwindle, debts default and homes foreclose. Entire families were forced to live in shelters, motels and even their cars. Many of them turned to food banks for emergency food assistance for the first time in their lives.

Hunger is a painful reality for a growing number of American families, including right here in Brookings. Please continue to support BBP, the Food Pantry, Feeding Brookings, the Harvest Table and Angel Food Ministries as together we continue to try to ease the hunger of local residents. But let's also give serious thought to what must be done to alleviate the underlying poverty in our community, of which hunger is but one symptom.

New Project Coordinator Sought--Will Be Part-time Paid Position

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:07:00 -0600

BBP is seeking a new Project Coordinator. This will be a part-time contractor position (average hours per week: 25).

Until now, the Project Coordinator has been a position shared by two volunteers, Susan Rosen and Phyllis Cole-Dai. The tremendous growth of the program's mission, including its expansion in 2011 to a year-round operation, was a deciding factor in the organization's decision to hire part-time staff. In addition to the Project Coordinator, the positions of Food Coordinator (10 hours a week) and Volunteer Coordinator (5 hours) are also transitioning from volunteer to paid staff. The persons currently serving in those capacities have agreed to remain on board.

To download a copy of the Project Coordinator job description, please click here.

To download an application, please click here. Hard copies of the application are also available at Job Service and some area churches.

To apply for the position, submit an application and resume by 1 March 2011 either electronically to bbpinbox@gmail.com or through the mail to Brookings Backpack Project, c/o BUCC, 828 8^th St S, Brookings, SD 57006.

If any additional assistance is needed, please contact Phyllis Cole-Dai at coledai@brookings.net or 605-692-7001.

Number of Students in BBP Surpasses 300

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:11:00 -0600

The number of Brookings students participating in BBP continues to rise. As of January 14, the total was 307. By comparison, the number of students served all last school year was 253.

While the number of children being fed is much higher this academic year, it still represents less than half the number of children who are enrolled in the free and reduced school lunch program. Enrollment in that federally-funded program is regarded as a strong indicator of the level of need within the community for BBP's services. "We still have a lot of work to do, getting the word out that BBP is here and willing to help," observes Susan Rosen, BBP co-coordinator. "We also need to reassure folks that there's no shame in accepting help when you're struggling. That's what the community is here for--to care."

BBP is not the only food assistance organization in Brookings that is seeing significantly higher numbers this year. At monthly "food roundtable" meetings, representatives not only from BBP but also the Food Pantry, Harvest Table, Feeding Brookings and Angel Food Ministries regularly share troubling reports of the numbers of community members who are struggling to meet their hunger needs.

BBP Creates Executive Board

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:55:00 -0600

As of January, 2011, BBP has a five-member Executive Board. Its members are

Sue Hay, representing the Council of the Brookings United Church of Christ, BBP's nonprofit fiscal host
Andrew L'Amour, retired state Social Services employee
Donna DeKraai, longtime elementary school teacher
Anne Werpy, staff member at First Lutheran Church, a faith community that has shown tremendous support of BBP
Brenda Schweitzer, executive director of Brookings Area Transit Authority

"We're absolutely thrilled by the composition of this Board," says Susan Rosen, BBP co-coordinator. "Each member brings expertise and skill that will contribute to BBP's further development and success."

Rosen notes that the Executive Board will be responsible, among other things, for offering general counsel to the BBP Team and for overseeing all matters related to any independent contractors who are hired to work on behalf of BBP.

"We're about to start a search for a part-time paid Project Coordinator," Rosen says. "The Board will conduct that search, interview candidates and recommend a nominee to the Church Council. Again, the longtime experience, wisdom and skills of our Board members will be essential in choosing an effective leader for BBP. We are tremendously grateful for their participation and their obvious passion for the cause."

SNAP/Food Stamp Use Continues to Rise in Spite of Recession's "End"

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 03:37:00 -0500

(What follows is a summary of an article that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, October 26, 2010. To read the entire article, click here.)

Record numbers of Americans now receive SNAP/Food Stamps, more than a year after the recession has been officially deemed over. Job layoffs and reduced family incomes have driven more and more households to apply for the benefit, while the economic recovery act made more Americans eligible through expanded access and eased requirements.

While the recession may have "ended," "all it means is that the decline in GDP [gross domestic product] stopped, but there's very little evidence that the loss of jobs and wages has stopped," said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center.

The SNAP/Food Stamp Program, notes Weill, is "relatively invisible, that's a great strength of the program," as recipients use EBT cards which helps remove the stigma of being on the program. Weill said he's watched SNAP/Food Stamp participation skyrocket in the past few years and expects more and more Americans to sign up for the program in the coming months. Almost 42 million a month in the U.S. now receive SNAP/Food Stamps, up from 26.3 million in 2007, and it's projected that 43.3 million per month will be enrolled in 2011.

"Eliminating Hunger in the U.S."

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:17:00 -0500

(The following article by Jim Weill of the Food Research and Action Center was originally published in USA Today's "Hunger in America" supplement on September 17, 2010.)

The problems of hunger and food insecurity are farmore widespread in our country than many realize, and their damage is significant for children and for adults, for our nation's health and educational systems and outcomes, for our nation's productivity, and for the economy as a whole and our fiscal well-being.

The latest official data from the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are for 2008, and they tell us that 49 million people were living in households facing food insecurity--the government phrase for families struggling with hunger. More than 16.7 million were children.

Solving this problem is essential because the damage is so great. Maternal undernutrition increases the risk of certain birth defects and contributes to low infant birthweight. Food insecurity among very young children can cause stunted growth, iron deficiency, anemia and delayed cognitive development. Food insecurity harms children's physical growth and immune systems, causes weakened resistance to infection, and in both early childhood and the school years means that children lag their peers and learn less, and these learning deficits cumulate. Everyone suffers.

Food insecurity during the adult years means lower productivity, higher rates of hospitalization, and poorer health. And adult hunger also harms children. Often parents do everything they can to protect their children from hunger: the children eat first, and get "enough" to eat (though it may be filling but not an adequate, healthy diet because of resource constraints). But the parents go hungry to protect the children. The resulting stress and depression harm not only the parents but the children's health and proficiency.

What all this comes down to is that hunger and food insecurity not only are unnecessary in our wealthy nation, but they are vastly counterproductive to our nation's goals.

The good news is that we know what works to solve hunger in America: a strong economy with shared prosperity and rising wages for all; and common sense government supports for children, working age adults, and seniors who don't have enough income for a healthy diet. Those supports include the nation's nutrition programs--school lunch and breakfast; the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; nutrition in summer and afterschool programs for children, and in child care; and food stamps (recently renamed "SNAP" for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). These programs already are boosting the health, early development, and productivity of millions of Americans.

But they need to do more. Often schools, cities, states, and the federal government don't take the actions needed to reach eligible people. Only two-thirds of those eligible actually receive SNAP/food stamps. Only 47 percent of eligible low-income children get school breakfast. And benefits in these programs often are not enough for purchasing healthy food.

If we make sure that there is more outreach and less red tape, millions more hungry people can get the benefits they so desperately need. And if the already strong programs are made more effective by making benefits adequate to meet the daily needs of hungry people, we can eliminate this unnecessary scourge of hunger in the U.S.

President Obama has pledged to end childhood hunger and dramatically reduce adult hunger by 2015. These are goals we can and must acheive.

BBP Supported by Brookings Education Association

Mon, 10 May 2010 08:09:00 -0500

The Brookings Education Association conducted a fundraiser this spring to benefit BBP. A check for $776 was recently presented to BBP Speaker's Bureau Coordinator and Acting Co-Coordinator Susan Rosen (center) by Chad Hauge (left) and Gary Mork. Thank you, BEA!

SDSU Students Lend an Artful Hand

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:45:00 -0500

Volunteers are always lending BBP a helping hand. Sometimes the help they offer is especially creative, and totally unexpected.

Such is the case with SDSU graphic design students Cassie Sigman (left) and Arion Poitra (right), pictured above with BBP Co-Coordinator Susan Rosen.

Cassie and Arion contacted BBP early this semester to ask if they could develop some public relations materials for the organization. Their project would count toward the completion of the course requirements for their Visual Communications I class, taught by Randy Clark.

Since then, the team has given its time and considerable talents to the design of a brochure, a poster, a table tent and a unique "cartoon advertizement" for BBP.

"In order to carry out our mission, we must communicate effectively with the public," says Phyllis Cole-Dai, BBP Co-Coordinator. "That might sound obvious, but it's not so easily done. We deeply appreciate all of Cassie and Arion's hard work. They weren't just fulfilling a university course requirement. They were helping to sustain the children of Brookings."

Number of Brookings Students Receiving Free/Reduced Lunches Climbs

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:23:00 -0500

As of the end of March, 725 students in the Brookings Public Schools were receiving federally-funded free or reduced-cost cafeteria meals.

That number already exceeds last year's total by 127 children.

According to Mary Tauber, the school district's Food Services Director, 541 students are now receiving free lunches, and another 184 receive reduced-cost meals.

BBP relies largely on the district's free/reduced lunch statistics when estimating how many children might need its assistance. BBP now provides weekly foodbags to 210 students in the public schools (and an additional 39 students in Brookings Head Start). While perhaps impressive, that number represents less than a third of the children currently enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program.

"We have to continue reaching out to the families in our schools, letting them know that BBP is here, that BBP can be trusted, and that there's no shame in being helped," says BBP Co-Coordinator Susan Rosen. "Right now, BBP is doing a lot, but we're not keeping pace with the need in our community."

Brookings Area United Way Awards Funding to BBP

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:05:00 -0600

The Brookings Backpack Project has been awarded a $16,500 grant by the Brookings Area United Way. BBP is one of more than 40 nonprofit organizations throughout Brookings County chosen to receive funding after an extremely successful United Way campaign, which exceeded its goal of raising $525,000 for 2009-10.

"The BBP Team is extraordinarily grateful for United Way's generous support," said Susan Rosen, a co-coordinator of BBP. "With this funding we will be able to serve a greater number of children next year. We will also be able to gradually increase the nutritional value of the food we distribute. The healthier the food, the greater our expense, but the children are worth it."

BBP currently serves 233 children and youth in Brookings.

SD Food Stamp Use Jumps

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:12:00 -0600

(The following information originally appeared in an article by Melanie Brandert, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, SD, on 2/6/2010.)

More South Dakotans are taking advantage of the federal food stamp program, with an increase of roughly 6,700 people in the last fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2009, 69,001 state residents received food stamps, up 6,727 from the previous fiscal year, according to the University of South Dakota's 2009 South Dakota Kids Count Factbook.

The annual rate of increase is the largest experienced since the South Dakota Kids Count report began publishing in 1991, Director Carole Cochran said. Both she and the state Department of Social Services attribute the increase to the economy.

"In looking at what was happening in other states, South Dakota was affected later by the recession," DSS spokeswoman Emily Currey said, citing job losses and stresses such as divorce and family breakups. "It probably will take us a little longer to get out of it."

William Swart, Augustana College associate sociology professor, said, "What we're seeing is a slide into poverty as the result of declining jobs, declining real wages and already high health care costs."

An estimated 64% of persons eligible for food stamps in South Dakota actually participate in the program. "Though people are eligible, they may not want to take advantage of the program or handouts," Cochran said.

Youngsters Sell Valentine Suckers as BBP Fundraiser

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:14:00 -0600

Two enterprising students are selling Valentine's Day suckers today at Camelot Intermediate School in order to raise funds for BBP.

Sarah Rounds, 10, and her friend Rylee Stromer-Iversen, 9, will be peddling cherry, bubblegum and cherry cheesecake-flavored suckers before school, over the lunch hour and after school. They'll be donating all their proceeds to BBP.

We at BBP are very appreciative of Sarah and Rylee's efforts, as we are of all special projects undertaken by Brookings children in support of the BBP mission. Through their fundraising, these children are helping us assist those among their peers whose parents are struggling to put enough food on the family table. They are also helping us raise awareness that food-insecurity and hunger is truly a fact of life right now for a significant number of students in the Brookings schools.

We hope that you have booming sales today, Sarah and Rylee!

BATA Delivers Hope in Tough Times

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:20:00 -0600

(To read this article as it appeared in the Brookings Register, click here.)

The Brookings Area Transit Authority (BATA) does more than deliver people to workplaces and grocery stores and doctor's offices around town. It also delivers hope to hungry children, one week of food at a time.

Starting in mid-October, 2009, BATA began helping to feed local school children through BBP, transporting from Sioux Falls the canned goods, juice boxes, cereals and other foodstuffs that BBP distributes each week to the youngsters it serves.

Every Tuesday a BATA vehicle pulls into the Community Food Banks of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. Once loaded with a week's supply of groceries, it returns to Brookings and delivers its cargo to the BBP Staging Site, located near the airport. On Wednesday evening that food is sorted by BBP volunteers into individual "goody bags," as one child in the program calls them. Then, on Thursday and Friday, the foodbags are distributed to participating students at Head Start and each of the Brookings schools.

This past Tuesday's 106-mile round trip to the Food Banks was BATA's eleventh. Each week the BATA driver, either Paul Mullaney or John Finley (pictured above), has hauled an average of 400 pounds of groceries. That makes a total of more than two tons of hope for Brookings children in need.

BATA Executive Director Brenda Schweitzer estimates that her agency spends around $50 per week to help BBP. "Why not?" Schweitzer says. "BATA goes to Sioux Falls every weekday anyway, because during the school year we're contracted with the Brookings school district to transport a few children there. Especially in these tough times, we nonprofit organizations need to collaborate with each other. That way we're not duplicating services, and we're making the best possible use of our funds."

Schweitzer works closely with BBP Food Manager Darlene Dokken to coordinate the food deliveries. When necessary, she may even alter BATA's routine to accommodate BBP's schedule, which fluctuates with school holidays and inclement weather. Wintry weather poses a particular challenge, Schweitzer admits, as does BBP's rapid growth.

BBP started the school year serving 80 students; this week it will serve 212. The food shipments have nearly outgrown the BATA van that typically makes the Sioux Falls trip. Schweitzer says that while "there's room for flexibility" in the size of vehicle being used, the logistics could get trickier as BBP adds more children to its rolls and requires even greater quantities of food. She stresses, however, that BATA will work with that situation as it arises.

Darlene Dokken applauds BATA for its generous support. "Because of BATA, we don't have to find volunteers (with big vehicles) to make the trip to Sioux Falls and back every week, in good weather and bad. We don't have to spend three hours every week traveling and loading boxes. We don't have to pay for a third party to deliver the food to Brookings -- instead, we can use that money to feed more children.

"This is just one more example," Dokken says, "of how this entire community is pitching in to help the Brookings Backpack Project. We care about the kids. That's what this is all about."

MetaBank's "Your Cause, Our Cash" Donation to BBP Highlighted

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:17:00 -0600

(Photo from the Brookings Register, 1/08/2010)

First BBP Survey Results Yield Interesting Results

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:33:00 -0600

Late last fall, for the very first time in its brief existence, BBP was able to survey participating students and parents as well as its primary staff contacts at Head Start and in the Public Schools. Administered by Angie Ficek, BBP's Program Evaluator, the surveys provided the first formal feedback on BBP's performance.

Staff contacts at Head Start and the Public Schools were generally quite pleased with how the program is operating. Among some of the general comments they volunteered were these:

"This is such a wonderful program! Thank you so much for involving our families!" (Head Start)
"I love it.... I'm finding the need is so great for those who are signing up." (Medary)
"We want to thank all the many people who are involved in making this project a reality. It seems to be a very well-organized and well-communicated effort." (Camelot)
"We are glad to have this program because there are more needs than people realize in our community." (Middle School)

The responders to the Student Survey were of course older students (from Camelot Intermediate School, Mickelson Middle School and Brookings High School). The students reported being mostly satisfied with the way they receive their food, its quantity, and how easy it is to prepare. All of them generally like the food, but a couple of students would like greater variety in the menus (BBP currently rotates five), and even more students would like to eliminate the canned food (usually a source of protein). Nearly all the students said that they're sharing their food with other family members.

Only 19% of Parent Surveys were returned, but Ficek wasn't surprised at the low response rate, observing that the average return for surveys generally is around 20%. As a group, those parents who did complete surveys had childen enrolled at all the school sites, so their feedback was very helpful.

Parents reported learning about BBP primarily, though not exclusively, from school sources--another indicator of the huge role that teachers, counselors, principals and other school staff are playing in BBP's success. Parents consider BBP registration easy. They reported that most or all of the food sent home is being eaten. The food is easy to prepare, being enjoyed by their children, and is offered in sufficient quantity.

A couple of parents, echoing some of the Student Surveys, urged BBP to forgo the canned goods and to offer more nutritious foods. One parent remarked, "Exchange canned food for more fruits and cereals. I think that canned food isn't good for children."

These parents will be happy to know that BBP Team members share their concern about the nutritional value of the foods being provided. We have already started to explore how we might increase that value while also (1) holding down costs and (2) making sure that the food still appeals to most or all of the children being served, many of whom aren't accustomed to eating wholesome foods. This is a challenge that may take some time to meet.

Among the general comments offered on the Parent Surveys were these:

"[The food] helps out a lot considering I work every other weekend and it's easy for my daughter to heat up for her and her brother. Thank you."
"[The food] really helps us survive the tough times!! My 4 year old loves it!! He thinks he is getting a bag of snacks for being good at school."
"My son loves having the juice boxes in the fridge where he can get them."
"The kids eat more fruits than they did before we began."
"[My daughter] thinks of [the foodbag] as a present she will get every Friday."

BBP wishes to thank all the students, parents and school staff who took the time to complete a survey. A special thanks as well to Angie Ficek, whose tremendous skills in program evaluation and great love of numbers are a real gift to this organization.

Number of Students Served Continuing to Rise

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:19:00 -0600

The first week of the New Year has yet to end, snowy and blustery, yet the number of school children BBP is serving is about to rise by another 10, to 205. Of these children, 169 are in the Brookings Public Schools and 36 are in Brookings Head Start.

These numbers are impressive, especially considering that in August, 2009, BBP only had enough funds to serve 40 students. Still, BBP estimates that it is assisting merely 27% of the public school children in need of weekend food assistance.

This estimate is based on the number of students currently receiving free or reduced-lunch cafeteria meals: 620 students, as of December. While a child needn't be enrolled in the federally-funded free/reduced lunch program to participate in BBP, involvement in that program is a strong indicator of need.

More than one in every five public school students (22% of 2804 children) is currently receiving free or reduced lunches. This percentage remains unchanged from the end of last school year. However, real numbers have risen, from 598 children in May, 2009, to 620 now, with nearly five months still remaining in the school year.

It's also important to recognize that more students who are enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program are receiving free rather than reduced-price cafeterial meals this year:

167 students (27%) are now receiving reduced-price lunches, down from 195 (around 32%) last May, while....
453 students (73%) are now receiving free lunches, up from 403 (67%) last May.

These numbers would seem to indicate deepening need during tough economic times.

Obviously BBP, with the help of the Brookings community, has much work remaining to do.

Packing Parties Full, But We Still Need You

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:52:00 -0600

Would you believe that EVERY packing party between now and the end of this school year is now FULL of volunteers? Thanks to all of you for signing up. We couldn't do this work without you.

If you didn't get a chance to pack food for the kids this year, we'd be happy to have you help next fall. In the meantime, though, you might want to consider joining our Management Team, which meets once a month. We're currently looking to fill these positions:

Volunteer Coordinator, who (1) schedules food-related workers on the volunteer calendar and (2) trains a small number of volunteers to oversee weekly packing parties and food distribution to the school sites. (Note: Thiswould be a particularly fine time to sign up for this job, as most of the calendaring of volunteers for the remainder of the school year is already done. You could take your time learning the ropes!)
Public Relations Manager, who works through the media to inform the general public of BBP news and share BBP human-interest stories, thereby raising popular awareness of its mission, encouraging donations and recruiting volunteers.
Community Outreach Coordinator, who works to raise BBP's visibility among Brookings civic organizations and other community groups in order to raise awareness about its mission, encourage donations and recruit volunteers. (Note: Outreach to religious organizations and outreach to local businesses are already being handled by other Team Members.)

If you'd like to discuss the possibility of serving in one of these capacities, please contact us as soon as possible. All of us who work for BBP may be volunteers, but our wages for caring are extraordinary!

BBP Begins New Year Serving 195 Students

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:26:00 -0600

BBP will serve 195 Brookings students as the new year begins, almost five times the number of children it was planning to serve just before the official start of this school year (40).

The BBP Team cites two primary reasons for the incredible surge in participation. First, continuous efforts to encourage families who might need food assistance to register their children for BBP are yielding results. Second, tremendous financial support from the Brookings community has made possible the purchase of greater quantities of food, allowing more children to receive foodbags.

While the BBP Team is delighted that the organization is currently serving so many children, members are well aware that hundreds more children are potentially still in need of BBP assistance. Fundraising and student registration will be perpetual tasks.