HACAP’s Operation Backpack Program, a collaboration between the HACAP Food Reservoir, Coe College, and Polk Elementary, began in April 2008 with 50 students. The backpacks were filled with healthy, kid-friendly meal and snack items and sent home with children at Polk Elementary each Friday.
The goal of the program is to provide shelf-stable items, including meals and snacks that are easily prepared by children with working parents and/or an extra source of food for food insecure households.
Research has proven that children perform better in school when they eat three balanced meals a day. Operation Backpack helps ensure that all kids have access to food that will allow them to become healthier, more focused and alert, have increased attendance, and are more eager to learn.
As the 2009-2010 school year begins, Operation Backpack will expand within the HACAP service area. The following schools and programs have agreed to participate this year:
- Polk Elementary (Cedar Rapids Comm. School District) - Partnering with Coe College
- Taylor Elementary (Cedar Rapids Comm. School District) - Partnering with Coe College
- Inn Circle (Cedar Rapids) - Partnering with Inn Circle Staff
- Mark Twain Elementary (Iowa City Comm. School District) -Partnering with Faith United Church of Christ
- Grant Wood Elementary (Iowa City Comm. School District) -Partnering with St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
- Elementary Schools in Oxford Junction and Lost Nation (Midland Community School District)
For more information on Operation Backpack or to see how you can support the program, please contact Krista Andersen at (319)739-1515.