Donate to Support the Backpack Program

Cash or recurring donations may be given at the Onalaska TwinStar Credit Union branch under the “Onalaska Alliance Backpack Program” or click the button here to get started with an online donation!

About the Backpack Program

The “Backpack Program” provides supplemental food to identified Onalaska School District students facing food insecurity. This program is a partnership between the Onalaska Alliance, the Onalaska School District, and local volunteers.

Participating students are identified by the school district with information coordinated by the Elementary/Middle School Counselor. Families are asked if they would like to receive food bags and can opt out at any time. Student names are kept confidential by the school and information provided to others contains only an identification number and a teacher name. During the school year, food and supplies are purchased by volunteers and bags are packed weekly and delivered to the school, which then distributes the bags to the students. Bags are usually sent home with students on Fridays, but the schedule may change due to other events. During summer break, food bags may be delivered to student’s homes.

While the number of students receiving food bags changes periodically throughout the school year as family situations change, on average, the Backpack Program serves 75 students each week. The majority of students attend Elementary or Middle school, but High School students may receive bags as well.

Cost

The cost per bag for 1 student varies with the items provided and their current prices. With the recent increase in food prices, current (2022) cost for 1 student has been averaging approximately $3.00 per bag. That is up from an estimated cost of $2.70 per bag in previous years. Annual school year costs for the program are approximately $8,325.

Funding

The Backpack Program is funded entirely through monetary donations with some direct food donations. A few individuals and local churches make regular cash donations to the program through the local TwinStar Credit Union account set up specifically for the Backpack Program. Additional cash donations are received periodically throughout the year. In 2021 and 2022, participants in the Onalaska Alliance online fundraising auction were able to earmark donations for the Backpack Program. In 2021, Middle School students held a homeroom competition and collected over 1,200 pounds of donated food items for the project as well as cash donations.

Donate Food

Food donations must be non-perishable! No homemade items are accepted! Bring food donations to the donation barrel at Onalaska TwinStar Credit Union.
Items in demand:  SpaghettiOs or Ravioli cans, Milk or Juice cartons, Fruit or Pudding cups, Granola or Fruit bars, Instant Oatmeal packets, snack size Chips, Top Ramen

Food

Food is purchased in large quantities, when available, and stored for later packing and distribution. Food items are chosen based on cost, nutritional value, shelf life, ease of opening (e.g. pop top vs. needing can opener), ease of preparation and of course, what kids like to eat. Perishable items are generally not provided.

An example of a week’s bag consists of:
SpaghettiOs, ravioli or similar – 1 can
Milk or fruit drink – 1 carton or container
Fruit or pudding cup – 1 small container
Granola bar or fruit bar – 1 or 2 bars
Instant oatmeal – 1 packet
Top Ramen – 1 package
Cheese or peanut butter crackers – 1 package

Additional items in larger quantities are sometimes distributed prior to major holidays and school breaks, both to help families celebrate the holidays and to compensate for meals students would normally receive while at school.

For more info on the Backpack Program, contact Onalaska Alliance Board Member Peggy Hammer at (206) 245-9896 or at hammerhouse@aol.com

Participants as of January 2022:

Casey Peters, School Counselor – Program liaison and coordination, Onalaska School District
Cindy and Fred Haptonstal – overall coordination of food purchasing, packing, delivery to school
Vicky and Tim Miles – food purchasing, packing, delivery to school
Peggy Hammer and Don Marshall - food purchasing, packing, delivery to school
Cathy Murphy and Oliver Jackson – coordinate return of food totes