BackPack Program

United Way of Broome County held a special Day of Caring food drive, from August 14 through September 11, 2008, leading up to the Day of Caring, to benefit the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s BackPack™ Program. United Health Services and Clear Channel Radio were co-sponsors with United Way of Broome County for this activity. This project was so successful that the decision was made to continue it throughout 2009.

In the August 14 through September 11 drive, 10 businesses provided drop off locations for community donations. These businesses include: Binghamton Family Care Center-Internal Medicine, Binghamton Pediatric Center, Clear Channel Radio, Clinton Street Family Care Center, Deposit Family Care Center, Johnson City Family Care Center, Stay Healthy Office in the Oakdale Mall, United Medical Associates, United Way of Broome County, and Windsor Family Care Center.

This community-wide food drive collected over 1,400 pounds of non-perishable items for children at risk of hunger. The food was repacked into 410 packs for use at the Broome County BackPack™ sites.

The Food Bank’s BackPack™ Program was started in 2005. This program provides healthy, kid-friendly, and easy to prepare foods to children at risk of hunger over weekends and holiday breaks when children don’t have access to free or reduced price school meal programs.

During the 2007-08 school year, the Food Bank’s BackPack™ Program served 15 school districts across the Southern Tier, reaching over 830 children per week. The food collected during the Fill the Bus Campaign will be used directly for the 2008/ 2009 school year. The BackPack™ Program is projected to reach a total of 18 sites and an estimated 1,000 children per week in the upcoming school year.

The companies holding BackPack™ drives at their organizations during 2009 are:
January - HealthNow New York
February - Columbian Fiancial Group
March - Emerson Network Power
April - Frito-Lay
May - Universal Instruments
August - BAE Systems
September - CSEA (union) at Broome Developmental Center
November - Frito-Lay
December - Endicott Interconnect Technologies

Here are the items that were included in the backpacks: 

FRUITS and VEGETABLES

• 100% juice boxes

• Applesauce cups

• Small boxes of raisins

• Fruit cups

• Small cans of vegetables with “pop-top” lids

PROTEINS

• Peanut butter

• Tuna or canned chicken

• Soups with meat or beans (especially with a “pop-top” lid or microwavable)

• Chef Boy-R-D Meals

• Macaroni and cheese in microwavable packets

GRAINS

• Individual servings of cereal

• Instant oatmeal packets

• Granola bars

• Crackers and cheese

DAIRY

• ·Pudding cups (individual servings)

Items in the packs were:

• kid friendly

• individually packaged, or small and light enough to carry (no glass jars, please) 

• shelf stable

• easy to prepare - no need for a stove or a can opener

• nutritious

Contact: United Way of Broome County
PO Box 550, Binghamton, NY 13902-0550
Phone: (607) 729-2592, Fax: (607) 729-2597
E-mail: dayofcaring@uwbroome.org