Buddy Pack Program Information

What is the Buddy Pack (BP) Program?

The BP program helps families and SBC students who need additional food on weekends and holidays.

The goal is to reduce the risk of hunger when school is not in session. The BP program is a partnership of the Southern Boone County PTA and SBC School District.

What is provided?

Each week eligible students receive individual serving sizes of kid-friendly foods such as cereal, oatmeal, canned fruit and juice. Students pick up their bag of food the last day of the school week (typically each Friday). A Moser's voucher for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk is provided each month.

How do I know if this program is right for me?

Only you can decide if this program is right for you. You might not answer "yes" to all of these questions, but they may be able to help you decide if you want to participate:

Do you participate in the free and reduced meal program at school? Do you sometimes feel like providing enough food is "a financial juggling act, where sometimes the food ball gets dropped"?

Even if you have food today, are you worried about tomorrow or next week? Do you often not eat a meal so that your child can? Does your child(ren) hide food, complain of hunger after meals or lack healthy snacks to eat between meals?

If you feel that the BP program will help you, please print this form, complete it and return it to your child's building office.

You may also pick a form up at the building office or request that one be sent home with your child if you do not have printing capabilities.

Where can I find out more information about the program?

If you would like to learn more, you may speak to your child's teacher, the principal or the building secretary. You may reach the PTA Buddy Pack Coordinator at:

Buddy Pack Program

PO Box 133

Ashland MO 65010

sbcbuddypack@gmail.com

Why is the program important?

20% or 1 in 5 children in Missouri are hungry or at risk of hunger. Sometimes this is called "food insecurity". When families are food insecure it means that "consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year."

Food insecurity may lead to malnutrition and problems with learning, motor skill development, emotional issues, cognition, behavior and poor academic outcomes (e.g. poor test scores and grades). The good news is that side-effects of food insecurity can be reversible with proper nutrition!

Food insecurity may be episodic and cycle. For example a financial setback such as loss of job or unexpected expenses can push a family into a situation where decisions need to be made between buying food or paying other bills. It is not unusual for families to leave the program when finances improve. Several BP volunteers were once BP families and are now giving back to the program!

Click here to access and print the Buddy Pack Application Form