On Wednesday night, the Portage community gathered in support of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana's Portage Backpack Program. Through ticket sales and a silent auction, guests were able to fund a program that supplies children with the thing they need most: food.
In 2008, Crisman Elementary School’s second grade teacher Lil Falk saw a need in her community. A young girl in her class was stealing food to bring home because she came from a food insecure family.
“My bible study told me ‘don’t ask why, ask how are you going to do something,’” said Falk.
This inspiration led her to partner with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to form the Portage Backpack Program, a program that sends backpacks of food home with students on the weekend.
Falk said, “The most important school supplies you can give a child is food. We can provide the books, the paper, the pencils, but if they don’t have food, they are not coming to the school ready to learn.”
A significant percentage of Portage students are on free and reduced lunch. Unfortunately, this program does not include food for the weekends. For some of these students, there might not be any food at all for them at home, let alone the means to prepare it. With the help of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, backpacks are discreetly sent home with students on Fridays, full of nonperishable, healthy options for the children.
Wednesday’s event was held with the hopes of supplying double the amount of students impacted by the program. Currently, roughly 170 students from all 11 Portage Township schools are served.
“Normally when we get an application, it is for multiple kids in the same family. We really do see that need there, but we don’t have the financial means to address it,” said program committee member Bethany Jensen.
“We have had such great community support. We sold out very quickly for this event. Portage is such a great, close-knit family and I think people know that the need is there.”
$10,000 worth of silent auction items were donated, as well as an array of dinner choices for guests. The event itself came at zero cost. The night was not only about monetary gains, but also raising awareness for the program.
It was clear that Portage schools were eager to contribute to the mission, with many elements of the event involving school employees. A Crisman kindergarten teacher made all the centerpieces. Portage High School’s varsity soccer coach donated a one-on-one coaching session for the silent auction.
Steve Beekman, Development and Deputy Director Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, said, “This program meets the gap between the weekend and the following week. We work with the school districts to help us distribute to the kids in need. The Portage Backpack Program is our largest program. They do a great job of getting support from the community. Tonight really speaks to their commitment to helping kids in need.”
Crisman Elementary Principal Scott Hufford has been able to see the program’s impact firsthand.
“I think the impact is significant,” said Hufford. “Our students recognize on Friday how important it is to them. Seeing their excitement when receiving the bags on Friday is pretty powerful. At that base level is a need for food. Helping our students have one less worry about the weekend provides stability for them. “