More than 1.5 million weekend meals have been provided to NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin children since its start in 2010.

As the new school year approaches, Second Harvest Northland recognizes the 15th Anniversary of its BackPack Program. Started in 2010 by Superior National Bank as the Superior School District’s “Nutrition on Weekend” Program, it now provides weekend food to children at schools within 22 different NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin communities, reaching more than 1,660 students each week.

Holly Evensen, Administrative Secretary for Special Education and Student Services, coordinates the BackPack Program in the Ashland, WI, School District. She said this program offers a sense of security for participating students and their families. “We’re very grateful to have this program and offer it to our families,” said Holly. “Knowing children have access to healthy food and meals is very important.”

In the 15-county NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin service region served by Second Harvest Northland, 1 in 6 children are food insecure meaning they don’t have access to enough food to lead a healthy and active life. During the week, free and reduced-price lunches at school help children meet their nutritional needs and alleviate parental stress. But for many families, weekends present a gap in reliable access to food. The BackPack Program fills this gap by ensuring students head home at the end of the week with a discreet bag of nutritious, easy-to-open, easy-to-prepare food, such as fruits, vegetables, ready-to-eat meals, and cereal.

“We all know the benefits of a full tummy for children,” said Shaye Moris, President/CEO of Second Harvest Northland. “They are able to grow up healthy, concentrate, and learn in school—and that leads to greater, long-term success. We’re so grateful to our supporters that make this program possible.”

In the last year, the BackPack Program has supported students in 49 school sites and 25 districts, ensuring more than 106,000 meals. Since its start back in 2010, the program has ensured more than 1.5 million meals to Northland children facing hunger.

For more information about Second Harvest Northland or to donate or volunteer to its BackPack Program, visit secondharvestnorthland.org/what-we-do/our-programs/backpack-program/, (218) 727-5653, or info@secondharvestnorthland.org.

About Second Harvest Northland

Second Harvest Northland is the region’s only “food bank,” accessing nationally and regionally donated and purchased product for 107 agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, and tribal organizations), 276 programs, and approximately 70,000 food-insecure children, seniors, and adults throughout 15 counties in NE Minnesota (St. Louis, Carlton, Lake, Cook, Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs counties) and NW Wisconsin (Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties). In addition to providing food to other non-profit programs, Second Harvest Northland provides support to thousands of neighbors directly as part of its two Food Shelf, Mobile Food Pantry, Nutrition for Seniors, School Pantry, and BackPack Programs. Over the last year, Second Harvest Northland has accessed and distributed nearly 13 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of nearly 11 million meals, for people experiencing hunger throughout the Northland.

Contact:

Shaye Moris, President/CEO

Second Harvest Northland

(218) 336-2300 | (218) 341-5620 smoris@secondharvestnorthland.org