AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictBackpackProgram

NatashaAthey,HunterCox,MaddieSiegel,AlexandraWolff
English2001
LeslieCook
Fall2014
ProposalforagrantfromtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgricultureaspartofthe
DemonstrationProjectstoEndChildHunger

Abstract:
IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica,thereare45.3millionpeopleinpovertyhavingayearly
incomeof$23,850orlessforafamilyoffouror14.5%ofthetotalU.S.population(United
StatesCensusBureau).IntheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrict,42.42%ofstudentsreceivefreeor
reducedlunchfromtheirschoolduringtheweek(AshevilleCitySchools).Althoughthe
percentageofstudentsreceivingfreeorreducedlunchisnotequaltothepovertyrateinthis
schooldistrict,povertyratesarestillmuchhigherherethanthenationalaverage,andevenNorth
Carolinaasawhole(SpotlightonPoverty).Studentswhoqualifyareprovidedbalancedand
nutritiousmealsfivedaysaweekhowever,thereisnobackpackprogramspecifictothisschool
districtthatprovidesnutritionalfoodforthesestudentsontheweekend.Receivingagrantto
startaprogram,BackpackBuddiesofAsheville,wouldensurethatnostudentsgohungryover
theweekend.InorderforBackpackBuddiesofAshevilletobesuccessful,theprogramneedsto
haveadequatefundingandsupport.Thisparticularbackpackprogramwillusemethodsthathave
proventobesuccessfulinotherschooldistricts,suchasusingcriteriathatincludesboth
quantitativeandqualitativedatatoselectstudentsandsendingeasytoopencansof
nonperishableitemswithstudentsonFridayafternoons.Weexpectthatbyusingthesemethods,
thisbackpackprogramwillbeabletosendfoodhomeforstudentsthattrulyneedit.Backpack
BuddiesofAshevillewillbeanongoingprogramthefundsreceivedfromthegrantwillhelpto
coverstartupcosts,aswellasthefirstyearoftheimplementationoftheprogram.Thebudget
thatwehavedeterminedtobestfitourneedsisexplainedbelow,andthetotalcosttostartthe
programandcarryitthroughthefirstyearisexpectedtobe$300,000.Theultimate,longterm
goalofBackpackBuddiesofAshevilleistomakealloftheAshevilleCitySchoolshungerfree.

Background/ExistingBaseofKnowledge:
MaddieSiegelisasophomoreelementaryeducationmajoratAppalachianState
Universitywithaconcentrationinpsychology.Maddiehasworkedinanelementaryschool
classroominwhichnotallstudentshadenoughfoodtoeatorwarmclothestowear.Shehasalso
beenavolunteeratherlocalfoodbankforseveralyearsandhasseentheneedinhercommunity
andthepositiveoutcomesthatresultfrompeople,childrenespecially,havingenoughnutritional
foodtoeat.Maddieresearchedmethodsusedbyalreadyestablishedbackpackprogramsand
constructedthebudgetforBackpackBuddiesofAsheville.
ThefirstbackpackprogramwasestablishedinLittleRock,Arkansasin1995whena
schoolnursenoticedalargenumberofherstudentsweretired,sick,andfallingbehindinclass
becauseofhungerandfoodscarcityintheirhomes(BackpackFoodProgram).Today,hundreds
ofbackpackfoodprogramsexistinnumerouslocationsacrossAmericaandprovidethousandsof
childrenwithfoodovertheweekend.Afterresearchingcountlessdifferentprograms,itwas
concludedthatthemajorityofbackpackprogramsacrossthecountryareruninasimilarway.
BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillbestructuredcloselytoaprogramruninHouston,which
predictsthecosttobe$125perstudentannually.Therefore,ifBackpackBuddiesofAsheville
canreachatleast2,000studentsaspredicted,agrantof$300,000wouldjumpstarttheprogram
inthisareaofNorthCarolinaandgetitrunningforthefirstyear.
NatashaAtheyisasophomoreElementaryEducationmajorwithaminorinTeaching
EnglishasaSecondLanguageatAppalachianStateUniversity.Natashahasworkedasa
volunteerfortheBoysandGirlsClubofAmericaandforEmoyeni,agrassrootsorganizationin
SouthAfricathatworkstobringnutritionandeducationtoruralSouthAfricanchildren.

Throughthesevolunteerefforts,Natashahasseenthephysical,emotional,andacademicchanges
thataredependentonaccesstogoodnutrition.
Natashaworkedongatheringbasic,overallinformationcrucialtoestablishinga
backpackprogram,specificallyfocusingonnarrowingdownthecontentandwritingthe
introductionandconclusiontotheproposal.Inherresearch,shelearnedoftheneedforthe
programandtheextenttowhichthisprogramexiststodayandtheeffectsithasonstudents
acrossthecountry.TeachersareusuallythefirsttonoticestudentswhoseemhungryonMonday
morningsandoftenfindwaystohelptheirstudentshunger.Teachersworkingatschoolswith
backpackprogramsinplacehavereportedseeingdramaticchangeinstudentsthatarerecipients
oftheprogram(Orr).Currently,schoolsin39statesandinWashingtonD.C.aresendingfood
filledbackpackshometo35,000studentsinneed,withmoreandmoreschoolsandfoodbanks
joininginthebackpackprogrameachyearthroughFeedingAmerica.BackpackBuddiesof
AshevillewouldbeapartofthegrowingbackpackprogrammovementinAmerica(Orr).
AlexandraWolffisasophomoreintheHonorsCollegeatAppalachianStateUniversity.
SheismajoringinElementaryEducationwithaconcentrationinmusic.Sheplansonteaching
kindergartenandhopefullyachievingaMastersDegreeinspecialeducation.Goingtoaschool
withmanystudentswhocouldnotaffordtopayforfieldtripsorlunchonaregularbasis,she
understandstheimportanceofsupplyingaidtothosewhoneedit.Shegrewupwithafriend
wholivedoffofgovernmentaidandfoodstamps,andsawhowharditistoeatregularlyand
healthilywhenyoudonothavethemoneyforit.Additionally,growingupandattendingschool
intheAshevillearea,Alexandracanpersonallyrelatetotheareathisprogramwilltargetand
researchedtheneedforBackpackBuddiesofAsheville.

AlthoughtheMannaFoodBankinAshevillehasabackpackpalsprogram,itisvery
spreadout,servingschoolsinsixteencountiesinWesternNorthCarolinatherefore,itdoesnot
reachallofthestudentsintheareawhoareinneedoffoodovertheweekend(MANNA
foodbank).BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewouldattempttonarrowthefocustoreachevery
AshevilleCitySchoolsstudentinneed.AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrict,whichhas42.42%of
studentsonfreeandreducedlunchoverall,haseightschools,allwithsomestudentswithneedof
abackpackpalprogram(AshevilleCitySchools).
HunterCoxisasophomoreMusicEducationandMusicPerformancemajorat
AppalachianStateUniversity.HeplansonteachingBandandOrchestrainthepublicschool
system.Hehashadmanyexperiencesteachingmusictoyoungchildren.Beingthesonofa
publicschoolteacherwhohasworkedwithmanychildrenoflowsocioeconomicstatus,hehas
heardmanyfirsthandaccountsofhowhungerisaprobleminourschools.
Huntersresearchfocusedonbasicbackgroundinformation,aswellastheseriouseffects
malnutritionhasoneducation.AccordingtoFeedingAmerica,IntheUnitedStatestoday,
nearly16millionchildrenfacehunger.Consequently,oneinfivekidsisfacinggreaterobstacles
toreachingtheirfullestpotential(ChildHunger).Foodinsecurechildrenareatahigherriskfor
behavioralandsocialproblemsandfoodinsecuritycauseschildrentobemoreatriskfor
fighting,hyperactivity,aggression,anxiety,moodswingsandbullying.Childrenarealsomore
likelytobeabsentfromschoolbecauseofhungerorspendmanydaysvisitingtheschoolnurse,
missingoutonvaluableinstructionaltimeintheclassroom.Lastly,achildsperformancein
schoolcanbegreatlyinfluencedbythebehavioralandhealthproblemsthatcomefromfood
insecurity(ChildHunger).

StatementofNeed:
In2011,19.4%ofAmericansansweredyestothequestion,Havetherebeentimesinthe
lasttwelvemonthswhenyoudidnothaveenoughmoneytobuyfoodthatyouoryourfamily
needed?IntheSoutheastalone,21.9%ofpeoplesaidthattheydidnothaveenoughmoneyto
buyfood.Peoplethatdonotalwayshaveenoughmoneytobuyfoodthattheyneedare
describedashavingfoodhardship.Outofthehundredhighestfoodhardshipratesinthe
countrysMetropolitanStatisticalAreas(CensusBureaudefinedareasthatincludecentralcities
plusthesurroundingcountieswithstrongeconomicandsocialtiestothecentralcities),sevenof
themarefromNorthCarolina.ThethirdhighestfoodhardshiprateinaMetropolitanStatistical
AreaisAsheville,NorthCarolinaatarateof23.8%(FoodHardshipinAmerica2011).
PovertyisaproblemthataffectsmanyAmericans.TheUnitedStatesCensusBureau
definespovertyaswhenafamily'stotalincomeislessthanthefamily'sthreshold,thenthat
familyandeveryindividualinitisconsideredinpoverty.The2014FederalPovertyLinefora
familyoffouris$23,850orless.Peoplethatareinpovertystruggletopayforthingslike
clothes,housing,andconsiderablymostimportant:food.Lackoffoodandlackoftheright
kindsoffoodcanleadtomalnourishment.Malnutritionisaveryseriousproblemthatcanlead
tomanyhealthconditions,especiallyinyoungchildren.Ifchildrenaremalnourished,itcan
affectnotonlytheirhealth,buttheiracademicsuccessaswell.
ThepercentofAmericansagedfivethroughseventeenlivinginpovertyasof2012was
21%.(NationalCenterforEducationStatistics)Thismeansthatthesechildrenaregrowingupin
ahouseholdwithmoreexpensesthanincome.Insituationslikethis,nutritioncanreallysuffer.
Familieswithlowincomehavelessmoneytospendonfood,meaningwhattheydogetis

usuallyfastfoodorinexpensivemealsfromthegrocerystore.Oftenthesemealsdonotcontain
vitalnutrientsachildneedstogrow.Ifachildbecomesmalnourished,theycanbecomesickor
havereducedmentalandphysicaldevelopment.Inextremecasesofmalnutrition,childrencan
havestuntedgrowth,mentalretardation,andbraindamage.Notonlydoesmalnutritionandnot
eatingrightaffecthealth,butitalsoaffectsacademicperformance.Itaffectsbraindevelopment,
causingdelaysinmotorandcognitivedevelopment.Thesenegativeeffectscanincludeattention
deficitdisorder,impairedschoolperformance,decreasedIQscores,memorydeficiency,learning
disabilities,reducedsocialskills,reducedlanguagedevelopment,andreducedproblemsolving
abilities.(OrphanNutrition)TherearelikelystudentsintheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictthat
aresufferingfrommalnutrition,andwhile,inmostcases,itmaynotbeextremeenoughtocause
severehealtheffects,itcanbesevereenoughtoaffecttheirhealthandperformanceinschool.
Beinghungrycandistractachildfromtheirworkduringtheschoolday.Teachersoften
noticeproblemswithhungrystudentsinthemorning,beforetheyhavehadachancetoeatlunch.
Teacherscitelethargy,headaches,stomachachesanddifficultyconcentratingasdirect
consequencesofhunger.(NoKidHungry)Astudentwhohasnothadenoughtoeatoverthe
weekendwillhaveanevenmoredifficulttimeconcentratingwhentheschoolweekstarts,before
theycangetamealfromtheschool.Haveyoueverforgottentoeatamealandnoticedthe
growlingdiscomfortinyourstomach?Imagineachildtryingtotakeatestaftermissingmultiple
meals.Schoolswantfortheirstudentstosucceedandgoontothenextgradelevel,oroffto
college.Nomatterhowgreatateacherisatinstructinghisorherstudents,ifachildisstruggling
withhungerheorshewilllikelynotsucceed.

ProjectDescription:
AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictisaschoolsysteminneed.42.42%ofstudentsare
receivingfreeandreducedlunchinAshevilleCitySchoolsasofOctober31st,2014.Inspecific
schools,suchasHallFletcherElementarySchool,wherethefreeandreducedlunchrateisover
70%,thereisagreatneedforstudentstoreceivefoodfortheweekendwhentheymightnotgetit
athomeinordertopreventmalnutrition(AshevilleCitySchools).Amajorityofstudents
qualifyingforfreeandreducedlunch,aswellasotherstudentsidentifiedbyteachersand/or
schoolcounselors,oftenhavetogofromFridaytoMondaywithoutreceivinganadequatemeal.
BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillattempttoserveallofthestudentsfromgradesK12inthe
AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictwhodonotreceivesufficient,adequatefoodathomeonthe
weekends.
Weplantosendnonperishablefoodsthatdonotrequireanypreparationthatyoung
childrencanopenthemselvesbecausetheirparentsmightnotbearoundtoassisttheirchildat
mealtimes.AbackpackpalprogramisalreadyinplacethatservessomestudentsintheAsheville
CitySchoolsDistrict,butitdoesnotserveallandisspreadover16countiesthatareinneed
(MANNAfoodbank).BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillbeauniqueprojectbecauseitfocuses
ononlyoneschoolsystem(AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrict),ratherthanbeingawidelystretched
programoveralargenumberofcounties.Anothercharacteristicmakingthisparticularprogram
differentfromothersacrossthecountryisthatitcoverselementary,middleandhighschool
gradelevels,asopposedtojustservingstudentsinelementaryschool.
Althoughitmayseemmorecrucialtofeedyoungerchildrenwhiletheyarestillgrowing
anddeveloping,highschoolisaverysignificantpartofachildseducationinthatitdetermines

whetherastudentcangotocollegeorgetthejobtheywant.Ifstudentsatthisagearenot
receivingpropermeals,itcanaffecttheirfuture,asmanystudiesshowthatcognitiveabilities
areaffectedbyhungerandsometimescausebehavioralproblems.Additionally,highschoolisa
keytimeinalotofstudentsliveswhentheyarefiguringoutwhotheyareandwhotheywantto
be.Havingtodealwiththeimplicationsofhungerandmalnutritionduringthiscriticalphasein
oneslifecanbedetrimentaltoastudentsselfconcept,somethingthatwillhavelifelongeffects.
Highschoolisalsoatimewherestudentsarefiguringoutwhethertogotocollegeandwhat
careerstheywanttopursue.Ifthesestudentsarenotdoingaswellinschoolbecausetheyare
dealingwithhungerandmalnutrition,itlimitstheirpossibilitiesforthefuture.Creatingthe
BackpackBuddiesofAshevilleisanimportantprojectbecauseitwillgivehungrystudentsa
levelplayingfieldwithregardstoacademicsbyprovidingthemwithsufficientandnutritional
foodsotheyhavelesstoworryaboutandabetterabilitytofocusonschoolwork(Child
Hunger).
Thecriteriaforastudentbenefitingfromthebackpackprogramwillnotsimplybethe
factthattheyqualifyforfreeandreducedlunchsomestudentsareoverlookedbysome
backpackprogramsbecausetheydonotreceivefreeandreducedlunch.Therefore,partof
qualifyingforBackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillbetheuseofteacherrecommendationsasa
criterionforstudentstoreceivefoodfromtheprogram.Teachersseeandinteractwiththeir
studentsallthetime,andarebestequippedtomonitortheirstudentsbehaviorsandeating
habits.Onceachildhasbeenidentifiedasqualifyingforthebackpackpalprogram,hisorher
familywillbenotifiedandmustgrantpermissionforthechildtoreceivefoodontheweekends.
Afterachildsparentorguardianapproves,heorshewillreceiveagrocerybagfullof

nonperishablefoodeachFriday,typicallywhileheorsheisatrecessinordertobediscreetand
notsinglehimorherout.Amorelocalizedbackpackprogramthatfocusesstrictlyonthe
AshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictwillbeabletoreachmorestudentsthanjustthosewhoreceive
freeandreducedlunch,aswellasensurethatnochildintheschooldistrict,atanygradelevel,
goeshungryovertheweekend.Theultimate,longtermgoalofBackpackBuddiesofAsheville
istomakealloftheAshevilleCitySchoolshungerfree.
Typically,churchesinacommunityserveascollectionspotsandeachschoolhasapoint
persontohelpcoordinatethatindividualschoolsprogram.Additionally,eachschoolwould
needapproximately35volunteerseveryFridaytodeliverthemealstothestudents.Thefood
placedinthebagseachweekneedstobenonperishable,butalsoneedstobebalancedand
nutritional,ataskwhichtakesthoughtandintentionalconsideration.Partnershipsinthe
communitycanbemadeasasourcefordonations,whilemakingsurethefoodbeingdonated
followstheguidelinesofbeingnonperishableandnutritionalfoodsbeinggiventothestudents
shouldmeetbothofthesecriteriasothattheycanbestoredforalongperiodoftimeandstill
givethestudentstheenergytheyneedtomakeitthroughtheweekend.
Possiblefooditemsthatcanfillabackpackincludepeanutbutter,granolabars,cansof
proteinorsoup,fruitcups,juiceboxes,raisins,applesauce,fruit,trailmix,andnuts.Thefoodfor
thebackpackprogramistypicallystoredforseveralweeks,ifnotmonths,beforebeing
distributedtostudentsandthereforemustbefoodthatcansitonashelfandstillbeokaytoeata
bitafterbeingpurchased.Aneasywaytoorganizethebackpackprogramistohaveamonthly
menu,inwhichthebackpackscontaindifferentitemseachweekforfourweeks,thenare
repeatedeachmonth.Becausethebackpackprogramissomethingthatisalreadyestablishedin

manyschooldistrictsacrossthecountry,BackpackBuddiesofAshevillecanbemodeledafter
andfollowasimilarpatternasotherprograms.Forexample,samplefoodlistsandweeklymenus
canbefoundonlineandadaptedforthisspecificprogramandschooldistrict.Analreadyused
budgetoutlinecanalsoserveasabasisforthebudgetofBackpackBuddiesofAsheville,making
changesandadaptationsastheprogramgetsestablished.
BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillbemodeledaftersimilarprogramsinplaceacross
thecountry,butwillbeintentionallydesignedforAshevilleCitySchools.Theprogramwillbe
implementedateightschoolsinoneschooldistrict:AshevilleMiddleSchool,AshevilleHigh
School,ClaxtonElementary,HallFletcherElementary,IraB.JonesElementary,IsaacDickson
Elementary,SchoolofInquiryandLifeScience,andVanceElementary.BackpackBuddieswill
hireonepersonparttimetobetheoverallcoordinatorfortheprogramandberesponsiblefor
purchasingthefood(orcollectingdonations),storingthefooduntilitisneededtofillthe
backpacks,andorganizingvolunteersandfundraisers.Becausethedistrictissolargeandthe
programisreachingapproximately2,000students,multiplestoragelocationsmaybenecessary.
Askinglocalchurchestostorethefoodwouldbeapossibility,aswellasutilizingastorage
closetinallparticipatingschools,ifspaceallows.
Eachschoolwillhaveonepersoninchargeoftheoperationsatthatparticularschooland
haveafewvolunteerseachFridaytocollectthefoodfromstorage,fillthebagswiththe
nonperishablefooditems,andplacethebagsinthestudentsbackpackswhiletheyareoutat
recess.ThePTAProgramattheschoolcouldbeagoodplacetostartintermsofaskingparents
tovolunteertheirtimeandgettingthewordoutintothecommunity.Forhighschoolandmiddle
schoolstudentswhodonothaverecess,aplanshouldbeimplementedforhowtodiscreetlyget

thefoodtothesestudents.Exampleswouldbehavingstudentspickupthefoodbeforeorafter
schoolonFridaysinaselectedclassroom,havingstudentspickupthefoodduringlunchon
Fridays,orsettinguphomeroomswiththesespecificstudentssotheycangettheirfoodduring
homeroom.Makingconnectionswiththelocalfoodbank,aswellaspartneringwithvarious
grocerystoresandrestaurantsinthecommunitywillallowthisprogramtogrowandcontinue
yearafteryear.Likewise,holdingfooddrivesandhavingcollectionbinsintheschoolsisagood
waytoinvolvemembersoftheschoolsandcommunityandenabletheprogramtoreceive
enoughdonationstoreachmorestudentsintheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictandcontinueinto
futureyears.
Thegoalofthisprogramistohelpstudentsoutwhoareatriskforhungerandmaynot
getenoughfoodontheweekends.Ifthesechildrencaneatproperlynotonlyduringtheweekat
school,butontheweekendsaswell,thehopeisthattheywilldobetterinschool.Graduation
ratesinNorthCarolinaforhighschoolwereat80%forthe20112012schoolyear,whilethe
graduationrateinNorthCarolinaforeconomicallydisadvantagedstudentswasonly75%.
(NationalCenterforEducationStatistics)Studentsthatarestrugglingtogetenoughfood,
especiallyhighschoolstudents,mayconsiderdroppingoutinordertogetajobtopayforfood.
Ifthesestudentsnolongerhavetofocusonwhereandhowtheywillgettheirnextmeal,they
willhavemoretimetofocusonanddowellinschool.Thiswilllikelybringupgradeaverages
intheschooldistrict,whichisadesirableeffectforteachersandthedistrictasawhole.Notonly
willitimprovegradesfortheschool,itwillalsoimprovethegradesoftheseindividualssothey
canpossiblygoontogetscholarshipsforandattendcollege.Gettingacollegedegreecanhelp

withfindingjobs,especiallyjobswithfairpayandhealthbenefits.Feedingthesestudents
duringtheirschoolcareercanhelpthemtogetajobinthefutureandescapepoverty.
Budget:
AsofOctober31,2014,1,894studentsintheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictare
currentlyreceivingfreeorreducedlunch,sothisnumberisastartingplaceastohowmany
studentswouldqualifyforthebackpackprogram(AshevilleCitySchools).However,itislikely
thatmorestudentsaregoinghungryyetdonotqualifyforfreeorreducedlunch,especially
consideringtherecentchangesthatmakereceivingsubsidizedlunchatschoolharderandfora
veryselectgroupofstudents.Therefore,itwouldbeestimatedthatapproximately2,000students
intheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictwouldbeinneedofservicesprovidedbyBackpack
BuddiesofAsheville,anumberthatcouldeasilygroworbehigherthanexpected.Gathering
datafromotherbackpackprogramsestablishedacrossthecountrypredictstheweeklycostfor
onechildtoreceivefoodfortheweekendtobeapproximately$3.25,anamountthatcan
fluctuatebasedonbothmonetaryandmaterialdonations.ThegoalofBackpackBuddiesof
Ashevilleisforeachparticipanttoreceivetwonutritionalmealseachweekendfor37weeksa
year,ortheequivalentoftheschoolyear.Therefore,theannualcostofthisprogramforone
childis$125(BackpackBuddies).Receivingagrantfor$300,000willallowabackpack
programtobejumpstartedintheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictandserveaminimumof2,000
students,withroomtohireacoordinatorfortheprogramandreachadditionalstudentsas
needed.

ReceivingthisgrantwouldallowBackpackBuddiesofAshevilletorunforoneyear

withoutneedingadditionalfundinghowever,holdingfundraisersandfooddrivesisagreatway

toencouragecommunityinvolvementanddecreasethecostofprovidingmealstostudentseach
weekend.Themoneywillbeusedprimarilytobuythefoodtofillthebackpackseachweek.
Additionalcostsshouldbeabletobeworkedoutinotherways.Forexample,schoolsor
churchestypicallydonatearoomtobeusedforstorageinsteadofhavingtopaytorentouta
space.Additionally,volunteerscanbeusedasopposedtopaidworkerstofillanddistributethe
bagseachweek.Anymoneywillbeusedtoeitherreachmorestudentsorbecarriedovertothe
followingyeartocontinuetheprogram.
Conclusion:
ThefundingreceivedforBackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillhelptojumpstartthisaid
program.Byusingcriteriasuchaswhetherthestudentisonfreeorreducedlunch,ifthefamily
islivingunderthefederalpovertyline,andrecommendationsfromteachersandcounselors,
BackpackBuddiesofAshevillewillmakesurethateverystudentwhodoesnothaveaccessto
foodoutsideofschoolwillbeprovidedforovertheweekend.Studentsinallgradelevelsfrom
eightAshevilleCitySchoolswillbeservedbytheprogram,ensuringequalaccessforstudents
fromelementarytohighschool.Avarietyofnonperishablefooditemswillnotonlymakesure
thatstudentshaveenoughtoeat,butalsomakesurethattheyaregettingthenutrientstheyneed
inaccordancewiththefederallysuggestedfoodgroupsfruits,grains,vegetables,andprotein
(ChooseMyPlate.gov).Easyopencanswillmakesurethatstudentsdonotneedtorelyonan
adulttobepresenttoopencansforthem.Allinall,theBackpackBuddiesofAshevilleprogram
willhelpensurethatstudentsintheAshevilleCitySchoolsDistrictdonotgohungryonthe
weekends,withthelongtermgoalofremovingthebarrierthatmalnutritionplacesinan
individualseducation.

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