Friday Backpack Program
MISSION STATEMENT:
Food security for the children in Union County is the ultimate goal of the Friday Backpack Program.
GOAL:
Continue to develop and maintain a network for food acquisition, storage, and distribution of supplemental food for eligible children and their families.
VISION:
We envision our community where all children have access to adequate and nutritious food resources.
Oregon currently has the highest rate of childhood hunger in the
nation, with 29% of children in the state facing food insecurity.
Roughly 50% of the children in Union County are eligible for
free and reduced breakfast and lunch, living in food insecure households.
Food insecurity is defined as "a household that is uncertain of having or being able to
acquire enough food to meet the basic needs of all household members because of
insufficient money and other resources for food."
Failure to address hunger creates consequences beyond the family dinner table.
Research has clearly demonstrated a link between food insecurity and negative
health and academic outcomes.
- Hungry children: not acceptable
- Children worrying about where their next meal is coming from: unacceptable
- Undernourished/malnourished children: unacceptable
- It is up to us to help those who are not in control of their situation. Clearly these children are not.
- They do not CHOOSE to be hungry.
- Eliminating hunger is within our reach.
- It is a huge goal, an important goal, an attainable goal.
