The Beginnings of a Backpack Program

I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a Backpack Program planning meeting at the Foodshare warehouse in Bloomfield. The meeting was organized by Eunice Medwinter of the Hyacinth Williams Foundation for Children. Her organization is interested in starting a Backpack Program in one of Bloomfield’s elementary schools in the fall. This was the first meeting between her organization and Foodshare, who will be sponsoring the food donations. All of the legwork for this operation still needs to be determined- like where the food will be stored and sorted, which school will participate in the program, how many students will receive backpacks, who will volunteer to assemble them, etc. In a way, the meeting felt almost overwhelming because there are so many details to work out before the program can get its feet on the ground. Paul Fraleigh of Fraleigh & Gray, Inc. was in attendance, representing the First Congregation Church in Glastonbury. He was there to offer volunteer support and to assist in gaining corporate sponsorships to cover some of the program costs. Paul had some really great ideas about individualizing student backpacks to meet their family needs, which I think has the potential of being done once the program has been soundly established. At first, though, such a large task may be overwhelming and the volunteers’ efforts may be best concentrated on deciding who (in general) the backpacks are meant for – to feed the family or just the individual child.
While much of the details still need to be worked out, it was so exciting to hear a group of people discuss how they wanted to volunteer their time to reach out and feed hungry children. At the same time, I found it upsetting that there are so many children in need of services like the Backpack Program who aren’t being reached. I have high hopes for the Bloomfield program, which has the potential to spread into other district schools. I think the key of success for the program will be modeling itself after other successful Backpack programs in the area, like the one run by the Junior League. While the Bloomfield program may not have the same resources available as the Junior League, they can still model their program after theirs by incorporating other community resources into the bags. Information on state health insurance, SNAP funding, tips for healthy eating on a budget, coupons for local businesses, etc. could be included to help empower families in need of other services. I’m really looking forward to following up with the Bloomfield program in the fall to see how the program runs and how many children are reached!

-Mariam

A Day at EHC!

Yesterday, while sitting in an office in End Hunger CT! listening to a client try to understand why her food stamp benefits had been reduced, I really understood the frustration and grief that those in need must have to suffer through. The client’s husband is receiving unemployment compensation. With a house full of six people, I can only imagine how urgent her situation must be. The client came prepared with papers and personal bills; she had visited the Department of Social Services twice in one week before coming to see the End Hunger CT! outreach worker for assistance. It was evident from her behavior and the look on her face that she was trying hard to take matters into her own hands. The social worker tried to reach people in the DSS but was unable to reach anyone who could help the client get her benefits. When told that the social worker would call her when she heard back from people, the client, whose voice had become increasingly emotional and whose cheeks were pink from stress and worry, wiped her eyes and let the tears fall.
I don’t know what it was about her that made me feel so strongly about the situation. I could feel her frustration, but more than that I finally saw what it must be like to have a family that depends on you for money and assistance. It’s sad to admit—but coming from a middle-class American family, in which my parents pay all my tuition fees, apartment rent, and any other expenses—I had a hard time grasping the reality of what a “bad economy” means. Oh sure, I hear people lamenting the state of the economy on a daily basis, discussing lay-offs and the rise in food costs. I feel fortunate and blessed that God has not tried me with lack of wealth or material needs to sustain a living. I can’t imagine what it must be like to try and manipulate your expenses each day simply in order to make sure your family has enough food on the table each night.
What was she feeling? Did she feel hopeless? Stressed? Did she worry about how she would feed her family the next day? What must it be like to live day-to-day making such crucial decisions for the ones you love?
I never want to forget the compassion I felt as I sat and listened to the client that day. I never want to lose the feeling of helping others in need. I sincerely hope I am able to help others one day and can contribute to the community in a positive way. As a reminder to myself, I would like to share one of my favorite quotes from the Muslim holy book, the Quran, which helps me remember my duty to others is not for any reward, worldly gain or fame—it is solely for the sake of God, and doing your duty to mankind: “We feed you for the sake of God alone; we seek from you neither reward, nor thanks.”

Although the client had to leave the office without any changes made to her benefits, this morning the outreach worker informed us that the client received the changes and her food stamp benefits.