Moms start backpack food program to help poor families

DENVER - When Tracy Edwards Konkol started investigating the needs of low income families, she could not believe what was happening at her school and others in the area.

"Kids on free and reduced lunch were going home hungry on the weekends," Konkol, a parent at Montclair Elementary, said.

She says kids were hoarding food and stashing them in their backpacks to take home for dinner or over the weekend. That's when Konkol and other parents decided maybe they should stuff the back packs for them.

"I don't know how you could learn if you're starving all the time," Konkol said. "I don't know how children can be successful without having their basic needs met."

Every Friday, students from needy families take home backpacks full of food. They return on Monday with empty bags and have them filled every week by volunteers from East High School.

"It's actually a good opportunity to help these kids," Raymone Lee, a senior at East High, said.

Whole Foods Market delivered six full pallets of food, about 3,000 meals, to support families at Montclair, Lowry, Swansea, and Park Hill Elementary schools.

"There are a lot of families in need that are in our backyard," Drew Calvert, a Whole Foods marketing and community relations coordinator, said. "We do this program at every one of our stores. It's called the Grab and Give Program."

Customers can purchase food to donate to the program.

Guadalupe Avilla is among the more than 50 families who are supported by the back pack food program.

"Before, I wouldn't be able to focus," Avilla, a fifth grader, said. "That's all I would think of, food, in my mind."

She says it has affected her school performance.

Avilla says she doesn't have to worry as much about food since the back pack program started.

"It makes a big impact

Moms start backpack food program to help poor families

 

DENVER - When Tracy Edwards Konkol started investigating the needs of low income families, she could not believe what was happening at her school and others in the area.

 

"Kids on free and reduced lunch were going home hungry on the weekends," Konkol, a parent at Montclair Elementary, said.

 

She says kids were hoarding food and stashing them in their backpacks to take home for dinner or over the weekend. That's when Konkol and other parents decided maybe they should stuff the back packs for them.

 

"I don't know how you could learn if you're starving all the time," Konkol said. "I don't know how children can be successful without having their basic needs met."

 

Every Friday, students from needy families take home backpacks full of food. They return on Monday with empty bags and have them filled every week by volunteers from East High School.

 

"It's actually a good opportunity to help these kids," Raymone Lee, a senior at East High, said.

 

Whole Foods Market delivered six full pallets of food, about 3,000 meals, to support families at Montclair, Lowry, Swansea, and Park Hill Elementary schools.

 

"There are a lot of families in need that are in our backyard," Drew Calvert, a Whole Foods marketing and community relations coordinator, said. "We do this program at every one of our stores. It's called the Grab and Give Program."

 

Customers can purchase food to donate to the program.

 

Guadalupe Avilla is among the more than 50 families who are supported by the backpack food program.

 

"Before, I wouldn't be able to focus," Avilla, a fifth grader, said. "That's all I would think of, food, in my mind."

 

She says it has affected her school performance.

 

Avilla says she doesn't have to worry as much about food since the back pack program started.