V.I.S.T.O.
Volunteers In Service To Others
Backpack Buddy Program
Like all of our programs, the Backpack Buddy program was born out of necessity. VISTO knew that childhood hunger was epidemic in Texas, but when the 2000 census numbers were released, it showed 1 in 3 children to be living in poverty in the City of Gainesville (twice the national average)! VISTO had no choice but to find a way to reach these children. In 2003, Ray Fletcher, a United Way Board member, saw the Backpack Buddy program on CNN. The goal of the program is to deliver two days worth of nutritional snacks to children who have been identified by school officials for being "at risk" of hunger. The first year we partnered with Tarrant Area Foods Bank, Edison Elementary and St. Mary's eighth grade to bring the Backpack Buddy program to 85 children, half of whom were classified as homeless by their school.
At the end of the 09-10 school year we served 762 children in 14 schools. The program costs $5 per child per weekend or $160 per school year per child. The program is paid for by local donations, fundraisers and grants. The 10-11' school year will mark the seventh year of the program. The Backpack Buddy program would not be possible in Cooke County without a generous grant from the Rees-Jones Foundation.
Backpack Buddy Food list (partial)
Poptarts
Pudding Cups
Cheese Crackers
Starkist Chunk Light Tuna (2.6 oz foil packs)
Instant Oatmeal
Chef Boyardee Lunch Cups
Fruit Cups
Vienna Sausage
Raisins
Hamburger Helper (Ind. Microwavable packets)
PAWLESSFEST will have a food drop-off point. Feel free to donate the above Backpack Buddy food list items.