Mondays with less hunger
by CASEY RIFFE Billings Gazette Staff

Some facts about the BackPack 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