Buddies for Buddy Bags
Over the last few weeks, I have watched in awe as students, staff members, compassionate volunteers and generous local business grow the Buddy Bag program. For those new to the community or unfamiliar with Buddy Bags, it is a donations-only weekend food program.
We began in February of 2012 with approximately 60 “buddies.” Prior to launching the program, Operation Food Search estimated there would be 400 students in food-insecure homes in a community of our size. We grew the program slowly in order to make it sustainable. This month, we sent home approximately 375 buddy bags one weekend. The number fluctuates from week to week as parents notify us when they are back “on their feet.”
We couldn’t have hit this Buddy Bag milestone without the help of many giving people in our community. Here are just a few of the moments I’ve witnessed:
Four Cuivre Park Elementary students raised $300 for Buddy Bags by creating and selling bracelets.
John Whitmire, an employee in our Technology Department, created a GoFundMe account to raise money to support Buddy Bags.
Aiden Vickrey built Buddy Boxes to be placed at area businesses, so you can donate any time.
Troy Furniture, Troy Flower Shop, Behlman, Imo’s and Verizon all became our first Buddy Box drop-offs.
And the list continues to grow
How great to live in a community that supports our children! Thank you to all who have donated to Buddy Bags, which now falls under the umbrella of our Education Foundation. Without your support, the Buddy Bag program would not have grown more than 60% since the beginning of the 2014-15 school year.