At Minerva Mission, supporting students extends far beyond the classroom. Ten years ago, Monica, Director of Mentoring at Minerva Mission, founded the Minerva Local School District’s Backpack Program to help ensure children have reliable access to food when school meals are unavailable.
As the family support specialist at the Minerva Elementary School, Monica works closely with volunteers, school staff and the Foodbank to keep the program running each week. Every Thursday or Friday, students across the district receive backpacks filled with two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks and two fruits to take home for the weekend.
The program now distributes 130 food bags each week, serving about 650 students each month from preschool through 12th grade.
The program has grown into a community-wide effort powered by students and volunteers. Fifth graders help pack bags as part of a service project and middle school students in the district’s special education program assist with organizing and packing food, too. Three retired community members also volunteer every other week.
In Minerva's rural community, transportation is one of the biggest barriers families faces in accessing food programs and other services. During longer school breaks, the program sends home larger bags filled with additional food that students can still carry themselves.
“Our food program is to come alongside families and help them when they are in a difficult season,” Monica says.
For Monica, seeing students excited to receive their backpacks is what keeps her motivated and reminds her why the program matters.
“The kids are so happy to see me,” she says. “They really look forward to it.”
Monica says the partnership with the Foodbank is essential. Without it, the district would have to limit how many students it could serve. Instead, the program remains open to every family in the district who needs assistance.
“I’m really proud that the program is student driven,” Monica says. “I’m proud it can run on its own even if I’m not there.”