KidPack

Q. What is KidPack? KidPack is an initiative within the Robbinsdale, Osseo and Hopkins Area Schools community to address weekend hunger for elementary students. Faith partners, community residents, non-profits, business and municipal partners collectively work together to raise funds, purchase food, assemble and deliver weekend KidPacks. KidPacks go home with students on Fridays, either 3 or 4 times a month.  

Q.  Why is KidPack important to our children/community? For many children a school breakfast or lunch is their only nutritional meal of the day. During the weekend many are faced with either non-nutritious food or simply go hungry. According to Hunger Solutions, “One in five area households with children are food insecure. Children in those households simply do not get enough to eat—they have to cut the size of their meals, skip meals, or even go whole days without food at some point during the school year. Over 40% of the people served at food shelves are children. Hungry children face unnecessary barriers as they strive to become healthy, productive and engaged members of society. Hunger contributes to poor academic performance and disruptive behavior in the classroom. Missed meals also increase tardiness and visits to the school nurse.”  
 
Q.  What is the cost of a weekend KidPack ? The cost of the pack varies, depending upon partnerships and donations. The cost for an individual KidPack is $2.00. Cost is paid for by the community partner.
 
Q.  What food is included in the KidPack? Contents vary, but the following is a sample of a typical KidPack content: Individual cold cereal, applesauce, raisins, crackers, oatmeal, fruit snacks, juice box and granola bar.

Q. How are parents notified about KidPack? When schools decide to participate in KidPack, a letter from the principal is sent home to all families. Letters from the principal include instructions on how to opt in or opt out of the KidPack program, as well as instructions for notifying the school of food allergies or other input parents may wish to share. Some schools have built KidPack into their school theme or goals. Ideally this letter would go out toward the beginning of the school year (September/October) but it can go out at any point in the school year.
 
Q.   How are the KidPacks assembled and delivered? Each school works closely with their community partners to identify and customize the best fit for the community partner and the school needs. This starts with a meeting and tour of the school with the principal and social worker. They and the community partner then create a game plan and timeline as to how best deliver the Kidpacks to the students and when. Three options are currently used for delivery: placing them outside the classroom in a box where all kids can take one; placing them in individual lockers; and distributing it to each student in a central school location. In the end the KidPacks are delivered by the time the students go home on Friday afternoons for the weekend.
 
Q.  Are district funds used to plan, purchase, assemble or pay for any portion of Kid Packs? No school district funds are utilized for KidPack. KidPack is dependent upon community donations, grants and fund-raising initiatives.
 
Q. How are volunteers connected to the district’s community volunteer program? Volunteers In Partnership (VIP) works with our faith-based partners to welcome them and to find the best approach to link KidPack volunteers with VIP in ways that are mutually beneficial.

Q. What schools, faith partners, businesses and community partner’s churches currently participate in KidPack (Robbinsdale School District)? 

Elementary Schools	Community Partner	Number of students served
Zachary Lane	Pilgrim Methodist	43 4x month, 172/month
Sonnesyn	Parish Community of St. Joseph	118 4x month, 472/month
Forest	Bonfire & Holy Nativity	590 3x month, 1770/month
Lakeview	Elim Lutheran	420 2x month, 1260/month
SEA	Parish Community of St. Joseph	35 4x month, 140/month
Meadow Lake	Bonfire & Holy Nativity	560 3x month, 1680/month
Neill	Good Samaritan & Calvary Lutheran	208 4x month, 832/month
Noble	Valley of Peace, Valley Presbyterian, Unity Church	180 4x month, 720/month
Northport	Mount Olivet Lutheran	625 4x month, 2500/month
Family Lit	Bonfire & Holy Nativity	52 3x month, 156/month
TOTALS     2831 students / 9702 packs each month

 
Bonfire Ministries is a collaborative mission of First Lutheran Church of Crystal, House of Hope Luthean Church and St. James Lutheran Church.

KidPack total of 2,831 served or 9,702 packs given out each month. (As of April 2015).
 
Q. Who do I contact if I want to get involved?  Please contact Jason Wittak at 763-544-3352 ext 118.