Purpose:
Rock Hill Schools, the Rock Hill School District Foundation, and community volunteers gathered information on the number of students identified by school staff as not receiving adequate nutrition on weekends when school meals are not available. The Back the Pack initiative was established as a discreet program designed to provide nutritious, nonperishable food for malnourished students to take home on weekends.
Evidence of Need:
In the Spring of 2008, the administrative staff of Rock Hill Schools researched external reasons why all students are not achieving. Administrators surveyed Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, and other Support Staff to collect data. Information collected revealed a number of astonishing external problems that hinder student achievement. Identified problems ranged from students not having appropriate medical care, a lack of proper hygiene, and surprisingly, 1,117 students displayed consistent symptoms of chronic hunger. Undernourishment negatively affects a student’s health, ability to focus, and overall well being.
Planning:
Back the Pack was introduced to the community with a kick-off event on October 3, 2008. Identified students began receiving packs of food on October 10th. Packs filled with nutritious, nonperishable food and juices have been distributed to 539 elementary age students for the past 16 weeks. The local community has overwhelmingly embraced this cause and has provided an enormous amount of financial help, and volunteers to support the program. With continuous help from the community, we hope to continue Back the Pack indefinitely.
Execution & Communication:
District staff researched backpack feeding programs and worked with volunteers to develop a district model for Back the Pack. Public Information launched a communications campaign to promote community awareness and solicit support for the cause. With the help of the local media, hundreds of local individuals, groups, and businesses joined forces with Rock Hill Schools to implement the Back the Pack program.
Evaluation:
The program goals are to provide every identified undernourished student with nutritious food on weekends during the school year, alleviate symptoms of chronic hunger for identified students, and to help undernourished students arrive to school ready to learn. Continuous monitoring of the program will be conducted by district staff and volunteers.
