Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STAFF MEMBER Jay Pawlak works with Dianna Kaschich, left, to pack a knapsack, while Shelly Forstrom, right, picks out fruit cups to pack.
By CHARITY SMITH
Bessemer - Students filed into the A.D. Johnston High School Library on Tuesday to fill knapsacks for their comrades in need of food during break through the Gogebic County Eat Smart Knapsack Program.
The program was established six years ago as a way of providing food for children who depend on school meals for their daily nutritional needs. "It's a huge collaborative effort," said Crystal Suzik of the Gogebic County Great Start Collaborative.
The Knapsack program is put together by the Gogebic County 4-H program, the Great Start Collaborative program and the Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District Center. There is a similar program for kids enrolled in Ontonagon County, Suzik said.
The knapsacks are assembled three times a year to go home with children in need before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. The items included in the bag include fresh fruit, bread, snack bars, cereal, various canned goods such as vegetables and tuna, along with a simple recipe the children could make with the food items provided. The center-based learning program filled the bags with the assistance of their instructors and students in the 4-H program. Many of the students have participated several times over the years
"It's fantastic and helps a lot of our kids," said Dan Niemi, Superintendent of the Bessemer Area School District, of the Knapsack program. "Our kids really depend on the meals they get at school. This program helps to fill the gap during breaks by providing those meals."
Niemi says the program does a great job with the provisions. "It's like you're going to the store," he said.
Many of the items are provided via donations. Community members are able to purchase items to be given to the kids at local grocery stores. People can simply look for the pink tag by an item with the program name. Suzik said they were fortunate this time, because their two most expensive items, bread and fruit were provided via two large donations from a a major bread manufacturer and a local grocery store. Ashley Dennis of the 4-H program said that the prgram growslarger every year, but this is the largest amount of students they have provided food for. She said that as long as they have the donations, the program will grow every year.
"It's great for the community and it's a great opportunity for the GOISD Center Based classrooms to help out," said Jay Pawlak, GOISD center based program instructor. "Our students enjoy being part of the event. It gives them opportunities to work together, follow directions and is a welcomed break from their normal school routines. The (center based) teaching staff also looks forward to these events. We enjoy watching their successes as they participate in the event. We always look forward to future knapsack events."
The bags will be distributed to the children later this week as they leave for spring break.
