Weekend Backpack Program Tackles Next Food Insecurity Challenge in Antigo
For many years, Aspirus Langlade Hospital and Clinics has supported the Antigo Community Food Pantry.
With any community-based program there is no one size fits all approach to solving any issue.
The hospital owns and supports the building that the pantry utilizes for their distribution center which features a Weekend Backpack Program (WEB) that was launched after child hunger data was identified in a previous Community Health Needs Assessment.
Backpacks are prepared weekly and sent home through local schools. They contain easy-to-prepare food, nutritional information, recipes, and available community resources for children and families.
Over the past year, WEB has been tackling the next challenge, creating a more individual approach to addressing hunger in elevated grades 8-12 in the Antigo community.
“Highschool aged students have the lowest carry home rate,” said Meghan Mattek, Community Health Improvement Coordinator. “Over the years the team has tried many approaches to ensure students receive items they need. With no significant improvement, the team started to research best practices for school aged children for addressing food insecurity.”
Through the “No Kid Hungry” center for best practices, the team is working to implement in school pantries for older grades. As the WEB program was first modeled after a best practice for food distribution to school populations, new approaches have been utilized and found to be successful for older students.
“The team is working with school liaisons to find and organize a space, set guidelines, and create an access plan for students within the school,” adds Mattek. “The pantry will share a space with a clothes closet allowing students access to more than just food and hygiene products. We feel this strategy will reduce waste (food and time), empower students with a choice, ability to educate and connect on a more personal level, and still allow for discretion, privacy and dignity.”
Aspirus Langlade also continues to support the Antigo Community Food Pantry and WEB through staff time, grants, donations and volunteers.
The WEB program was also selected by the hospital’s mission fund committee which provided $12,500 in funding support. Annual costs are about $190 per child with a bag provided throughout the school year for 32 weeks.
With any community-based program there is no one size fits all approach to solving any issue.
The hospital owns and supports the building that the pantry utilizes for their distribution center which features a Weekend Backpack Program (WEB) that was launched after child hunger data was identified in a previous Community Health Needs Assessment.
Backpacks are prepared weekly and sent home through local schools. They contain easy-to-prepare food, nutritional information, recipes, and available community resources for children and families.
Over the past year, WEB has been tackling the next challenge, creating a more individual approach to addressing hunger in elevated grades 8-12 in the Antigo community.
“Highschool aged students have the lowest carry home rate,” said Meghan Mattek, Community Health Improvement Coordinator. “Over the years the team has tried many approaches to ensure students receive items they need. With no significant improvement, the team started to research best practices for school aged children for addressing food insecurity.”
Through the “No Kid Hungry” center for best practices, the team is working to implement in school pantries for older grades. As the WEB program was first modeled after a best practice for food distribution to school populations, new approaches have been utilized and found to be successful for older students.
“The team is working with school liaisons to find and organize a space, set guidelines, and create an access plan for students within the school,” adds Mattek. “The pantry will share a space with a clothes closet allowing students access to more than just food and hygiene products. We feel this strategy will reduce waste (food and time), empower students with a choice, ability to educate and connect on a more personal level, and still allow for discretion, privacy and dignity.”
Aspirus Langlade also continues to support the Antigo Community Food Pantry and WEB through staff time, grants, donations and volunteers.
The WEB program was also selected by the hospital’s mission fund committee which provided $12,500 in funding support. Annual costs are about $190 per child with a bag provided throughout the school year for 32 weeks.
