Backpacks4Kids Program Expands to Include Great Falls’ Two Middle Schools

The Great Falls Community Food Bank is pleased to announce their vital Backpacks4Kids program will be expanded to include Great Falls’ two middle schools starting in the fall of 2025. The long-running program, which feeds underprivileged children on weekends and holidays through the school year, has been a Great Falls elementary school staple since the program began in 2011 with just the four most impoverished elementary schools participating. The program soon grew to eight schools and by 2017 was serving all 15 elementary schools as well as Vaughn school. North Middle School principal and former Chief Jo Elementary principal Brian Miller said he was thrilled with the expansion news and that the Backpacks4Kids program will make his job easier by removing some anxiety over the kids’ home lives. “There are families I would worry about if it were not this program,” Miller said. “We love these kids and we feel better knowing there’s food for them on the weekends.” Miller also said the Backpacks4Kids program has made a difference in the classroom. “When students have all their basic needs met, and aren’t anxious about what’s coming—or what’s not coming, their behavior tends to be much better.” Food Bank Executive Director Shaun Tatarka said the expansion had long been a goal for the 501© charity. “We know there is hunger to some degree in all our schools,” Tatarka said. “We were pleased to alleviate some of that by providing meals for the younger kids but we also knew it was real hardship for these kids entering middle school when those weekly packs of food were no longer available. And now, thanks to the generosity of so many individuals, businesses and foundations, we can fill that void.” Tatarka also said he’s believes the Great Falls Community will support this expansion in the years to come. “Time and time again, the people of Cascade County have stepped up to take care of their neighbors who might be experiencing some hardship. We know we have funds right now for the next year or so and I am confident we can sustain the expanded Backpacks4Kids program in the foreseeable future. Currently, in the spring of 2025, the Food Bank is delivering about 950 packs of food a week to the schools. The cost of the program has typically been around $125,000 per year. The expansion is expected to add about 30% to both the cost and total number of food packs. In addition to the middle school expansion, Centerville schools will also be added to the program in the fall of 2025. The Backpacks4Kids program is designed to meet the needs of chronically hungry school children at times when other resources are not available. Under the program, teachers and counselors identify kids who are constantly coming to school on Mondays hungry. The schools then place a weekly order with the Food Bank, and we deliver the number of needed “packs” to the schools. The “packs” are ziplock bags that contain “kid friendly” items—cereal; juice; non-perishable milk; two cans of pasta, stew or soup; Kracklin Kamut, crackers, granola bar, and a fruit snack. The packs are DISCREETLY placed into the backpacks by counselors and teachers. Teachers, counselors and administrators are trained in identifying children who are chronically hungry. While a child may not tell someone they don’t have food at home, they may display physical appearances of hunger; have behavioral and school performance issues; are known to have a challenging home environment; or demonstrate other signs of hunger. This program is designed to counter this problem. Our goals include: To help solve the primary issue of children showing up for school hungry on Monday mornings and after holiday break, causing a disruption that harms every student's ability to learn. Children cannot focus and learn when they are hungry and in pain. To create a more positive classroom learning environment so teachers can teach instead of dealing with hungry children who are acting out. Help disadvantaged children who come from low-income backgrounds break the cycle of poverty they may be mired in by allowing them to learn on a full stomach.

Backpacks4Kids Program Expands to Include Great Falls’ Two Middle Schools

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