Sarah Evans, a first grade teacher at Lee Elementary School (LES) hadn’t been teaching long when she saw a need in her students and decided to fix it.
Towards the end of Evans’ first year of teaching, it became very apparent to her that there was need in the families of the students she taught.
“[Some students] didn’t have clothes to keep them warm [in the winter], or cool clothes in the summer,” said Evans. Realizing that, if that large amount of her students did not have proper seasonal clothes, there had to be hunger and poverty linked in with it. While not every case is like this, as sometimes, children dress themselves or parents can’t predict how cold or hot the weather is, Evans said that the idea sparked the concept of assisting with meals.
“It got [me thinking],” said Evans. “I talked to a bunch of teachers and everyone was for it, so we decided, ‘let’s give it a go and see what happens.’”
In February of 2014, the first Backpack Buddy was sent home with a student.
Once a week, teachers at LES gather in Evan’s homeroom to fill white shopping bags with various foods, such as Chef Boyardee soups, granola bars, microwavable Mac ‘n’ Cheese bowls and juice packs. All foods must be child friendly and easy to heat and eat, as many students get home before their parents and sending food items that need extensive cooking isn’t practical.
The privacy of the students is greatly respected by the teachers who help with the program. No student is required to publicly announce that they are on the program and parents are contacted discreetly to make sure it is acceptable to enroll the student in the program.
On top of all that, Evans says the list of recipients is flexible; just because a student is on it for months doesn’t mean they must remain on the list.
According to Evans, many families will only use the program when they can’t do without it; once they are doing better financially, they can request to be pulled off. Also, Evans states that just because someone is pulled off the list does not mean they cannot return, if the need arises.
Evans has big hopes for her Backpack Buddies program. “I would love to see it extend over the summer,” said Evans, wistfully. Extending the meal-providing period would require extra hands, extra funds and extra time…but Evans truly hopes to see the children of the county be well fed and able to focus on their studies, instead of their stomach.
Evans also hopes to see more students in need join the program instead of holding back because they, or their parents, are too shy to ask for help.
Finally, Evans wishes to see more schools in the district join the Backpack Buddies plan, or something similar. “I know its not just Lee Elementary that has hunger in their kids,” said Evans.
While Evans is the mastermind behind Backpack Buddies, she refuses to take the full credit for jumpstarting the program.
“All of the teachers are behind this program,” said Evans. “It takes everybody to do this.”
Continuing with that, Evans spoke proudly on the funding for the program.
No grants or government assistance is currently aiding in putting Backpack Buddies in the arms of children; all funds come from teachers, fundraising projects, parents and various businesses, churches and individuals in the community.
“The community has played a huge roll in making sure we are able to fill the bags each Friday,” said Evans. In particular, she expressed gratitude to Four Freedoms CrossFit and the gym’s owners, Willy and Melissa Gamalero, as well as Lee First Baptist Church for their help in the past and the help they will provide in the program’s future in getting the bags filled and the children fed.
While there has been plenty of help from the community, Evans would love to see her program grow and to do that, Backpack Buddies will require more backing from individuals, civic groups, churches and businesses in the county.
No child should go hungry and Evans welcomes all the help she can get at fighting hunger close at home.
“A hungry child cannot learn,” stated Evans.
Those interested in helping will be put in touch with Evans by contacting the front desk at LES at (850) 973-5030.
Monetary donations are always accepted, but those who prefer to donate food items are also welcome to do so.
“[We use] a lot of kid-friendly items,” said Evans. The program is geared to providing basic, but filling foods for children that do not involve a lot of cooking (as some children are too young or not allowed to use a stove).
Chicken noodle soup or ravioli (with the pop top), peanut butter cracker sandwiches, juice, microwavable macaroni and cheese bowls and other easy-to-eat food products are just a few that Evans and her band of teachers regularly stock bags with.
If adding a few products on to your shopping list is how you’d like to help, please contact Evans ahead of time to be certain that the product you plan on buying is one that she adds to her bags or one that she currently needs.