Schools to partner with Food Closet

It is anticipated that all three elementary schools could eventually be able to participate in a backpack program through the Solid Rock Food Closet that is scheduled to begin Jan. 1. Due to the program's grant guidelines, only one school can participate at first.

The members of the Alleghany County Board of Education approved the Solid Rock Food Closet to work in conjunction with the school system to provide pupils at Sparta School in kindergarten through fourth grade who are receiving reduced or free lunch the opportunity to have "kid-friendly" foods over the weekend during the school year. In order to qualify for participation in the program, 50 percent or more of the student population must be receiving free or reduced lunches. DeAnne Warren, director of the Solid Rock Food Closet explained to the board members that the Backpack Program is "geared towards rural school children that may not necessarily get enough to eat on the weekend. They leave the school on Friday with a backpack full of kid- friendly foods that they, with little or no help, can prepare for themselves over the weekend. They bring their backpack back on Monday and it goes back to the food closet and refilled. It's all confidential; we have forms that the parents have to fill out. Schools, advisers and counselors decide who gets the food."

Warren noted the funds for the program come from a grant. "I don't know exactly how much we have in the grant for this year, but we do hope to be able to keep it going because the food closet has got the board behind it, they are very excited about it and we can make sure this is something we can continue upon review." She then explained that all elementary schools qualify for the program, but the first 50 participants in the program must come from one school.

Alleghany County Schools Superintendent Jeff Cox explained, "Initially, Sparta School has the highest percentage this year of free and reduced lunch and, of course, because of our large number of students. We talked about beginning the program there with the hope of expanding. I believe there's some regulations now that you have to have 50 students in the school. DeAnne talked about trying to negotiate with us as far as maybe next year, we can expand that program, maybe have 25 at Piney and 25 at Glade and maintain the kids at Sparta."

Opening the floor for questions, Board Member Faron Atwood asked if other counties were participating in the program. Warren replied, "We would be the seventh county in the Second Harvest Region of 18 counties that would have (initiated a) start-up for this program. It's just now gone national. It's a win, win situation. We won't know who these students are. The only ones who will know will be the counselors and there some guidelines about confidentiality and things like that."

Cox stated that someone at the school would need to be talked to about the coordination of the distribution process.

"It will be done in a way where the kids aren't singled out and maybe feel self-conscious about it," he said.

Atwood then asked what the backpacks would look like and Warren told him they would be "regular" backpacks that could not be distinguished from those of other students'.

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