Soroptimist of Billings is committed to our BrightEYES Back Pack program. This program provides nutritional snacks and meals to school children of families with food insecurities. In cooperation with the Billings Public School System, BrightEYES will provide funding for the backpack program. The BrightEYES backpack program provides healthy foods to children to take home for the weekends and holidays.

As Soroptimists, we believe in education and the future of our children, "You can give children the best education, but if they are hungry, they can not learn."

Donate Now!
or
Donations can be made to:
 brighteyes@sibillings.org
Soroptimist of Billings
PO Box 2322   Billings MT 59102
We thank you for your monetary support for our BrightEYES Back Pack program.

"A Night of Wine and Roses" 2011/2012 FOR THE BENEFIT OF:
The Soroptimist BrightEYES Project
in Association With The Billings Public Schools Back Pack Meals Program.
Also Soroptimist Special Projects & Scholarships.
 


Dr. Ginny Mermel PhD, CNS
Chair, Billings School Health Advisory Council
talks about the Back Pack Meals Program.
 

Some facts about the Back Pack Program:

  • Approximately 15,600 students are enrolled in Billings Public Schools (BPS)
  • 37% of BPS students (nearly 6000 students ) are enrolled in the Federally subsidized Free and Reduced Meals Program~ the accurate number who qualify is most likely greater as we believe some middle and high school students that qualify for this program don’t participate due to the social stigma even though the new electronic billing procedure means no one knows for sure who needs assistance. At the high school level, most students except those in need of a free meal, leave campus to eat at surrounding fast food establishments.
  • Between 7 and 10% of the students enrolled in the Free and Reduced Meals Program experience hunger on a chronic basis
  • BPS has a food grant from the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) for the 2009-2010 school year. This grant provides BackPack Meals Packets for up to 500 chronically hungry students over weekends and holidays.
  • To qualify for the MFBN grant students must attend a Title One School that has 50% of greater participation in the Free and Reduced Meals Program or be the sibling of one of these children. Seven schools: Ponderosa, Orchard, Newman, McKinley, Broadwater and Bench meet the grant criteria.
  • MFBN has agreed to sell BPS meal packs at cost ($3.69 a piece) for hungry students enrolled in the district’s other schools.
  • The grant is intended to help establish a permanent BackPack Program in Billings. Beginning in Fall 2010, BPS will need to raise the entire $100,000 needed to keep the program going
     

BrightEYES white papers

Mondays with less hunger
by CASEY RIFFE Billings Gazette Staff

Soroptimist and Brighteyes  Informational Power Point Presentation
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Soroptimist and Brighteyes Informational Fact Sheet

brighteyes@sibillings.org

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