Radez using backpacks to fight hunger

4/1/2014

By Jim Poole

Staff at Cobleskill-Richmondville's Radez School is fighting hunger, one family at a time.
Every Friday, teachers, support staff and administrators fill backpacks with food to help eight poverty-stricken families get through the weekend--and help their kids get off to a good week in school.
"When you have priorities based on survival, there may be much less focus on education," Radez Principal Brett Barr said.
Third-grade teacher Jessica Dineen started the Backpack Project after participating in a program about poverty in education.
Mr. Barr brought the program to Radez to have staff role-play families in dire need.
"We got a good feel for it," he said.
Ms. Dineen had read about Backpack Programs and decided one could work at Radez.
Employees identified eight families, and the Cobleskill-Richmondville Teachers' Association bought the backpacks from L.L. Bean "because if anything happened to them, Bean backs up their products, Ms. Dineen said.
Ms. Dineen secured two grants for $1,100 through the online charity DonorsChoose.org.
The first grant, for food, went for cereal, macaroni and cheese kits, soup and other non-perishables. The second grant bought personal hygiene items.
"We did that because they're not available at food pantries," Ms. Dineen said. "And for families struggling to buy food, they may not afford them."
To pick up where the grants left off, Ms. Dineen emailed the Radez staff to help out. Forty employees signed up.
"They come from every corner of the school--teachers, aides, secretaries, administrators," Mr. Barr said.
The project is far more organized than simply bringing in food each week.
Ms. Dineen assigned five staffers to each of the families. The staffers rotate who donates each week. One will buy $20-$25 in food and another will buy the same amount in gift cards.
Families use the gift cards to buy perishable food--dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables--to supplement what's in the backpack.
There was a snag the first week--February 14 was a snow day--so teams delivered the backpacks. Since then, it's been running well.
For each person on the team, it works out to $40-$45 every five or six weeks, Mr. Barr said.
"It's doable," he said. "You might go three weeks before you help again because it's a team effort."
Although the families were identified from Radez students, the eight families have 22 kids in Cobleskill-Richmondville's four schools.
The students qualify for free and reduced breakfasts and lunches at school, so they get nutritious meals during the week.
The Backpack Project fills in the weekend when kids take the goods home every Friday.
Better nutrition and hygiene improves attendance and learning and builds positive behavior, Ms. Dineen said.
"We want them coming to school on Monday ready to learn," she said.
Mr. Barr agreed.
"We're not asking them to do anything except encourage their children at home," he said. "We're creating a positive relationship with these families."
And they've done so.
"One mom called and was in tears, so happy that someone cared about them," Mr. Barr said.
Radez has a Poverty Committee, and members may suggest other C-R schools join the effort.
They're also starting a companion effort, Stock the Shelves for Summer, to help families when school's out.
"Families may be in a little better position in the summer, when they're not paying high fuel bills," Mr. Barr said.
He added that Ms. Dineen's hard work has made the Backpack Project wildly successful on all fronts.
"Kudos to Jessica and all who are helping," Mr. Barr said.

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Private donations have also been helping Radez' Backpack Project.
Anyone who wants to help can call the main office at 294-6621 or drop off gift cards at the Radez office in Richmondville.