The Catskill Chronicle

LIBERTY & WOODBOURNE, NY (January 6, 2013) – Each year the Sullivan County Correctional Facilities choose to support a local effort which helps people in need. 

This year they selected the Snack Back Pack Program at Sullivan BOCES.

Since November, the Correctional Facilities have contributed large amounts of donated food items, as well as a check for $700, which was used to buy additional food for the program.

In the fall of 2010, the idea of Snack Back Packs was presented to the staff at Sullivan BOCES. Since then, this initiative has spread due to the overwhelming support from the staff at BOCES, the Tri-Valley Lions Club, the employees of the Misner Agency, the Teacher’s Sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa, and now the Sullivan Correctional Facility. The United Way of Sullivan County also supports the program by providing supplemental funding and developing community awareness.

In the photo above, Zechariah Jahn and Sara Blasingame restock the food items for the backpacks.

On average for the past three years, BOCES has sent home 35 to 50 backpacks every other week to students in need.

The backpacks are distributed on a rotating basis to students who counselors, school nurses or other staff have identified as being in need. Each pack is filled with food items that children can eat as a dietary supplement.

Typically the packs include peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, packaged meals, ramen noodles, ravioli, cereal, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal and raisins.

For more information about the Snack Back Pack Initiative, contact Phyllis Thomas Moore at 845 295-4114.