On Friday
mornings Gillis students and staff can be found sorting through boxes of food
to organize and prepare for the distribution of Harvesters BackSnack program to
Day Treatment Students. Not only does
this program allow for the distribution of over 100 meals a month to families
in need, but it also provides a space for Gillis students to practice serving
one another.
Each week, 25
Gillis students are sent home with a BackSnack backpack full of non-perishable
foods to ensure they will have food available throughout the weekend. Harvesters provides the food and the
backpacks, and Gillis Day Treatment employees collect the backpacks, clean them
out and pack them with food. Schools distribute the backpacks on Friday to
students who bring them back on Monday to start the process again. Studies by the Midwest Center for Nonprofit
Leadership have shown that as a result of participating in the program
students’ absences and tardies decrease, discipline issues decrease, and both
social skills and grades improve.
The
BackSnack program is a way that the Day Treatment School is able to go above
and beyond meeting our students’ and families’ needs in the community outside
of the normal school day. Not only does
it help meet a huge need in our community, but it allows opportunities for the
development of social responsibility in our students. Knowing that we are able to assist our
families beyond the walls of the school building is extremely important, and I
feel this program does just that in a very tangible way. Please feel free to contact me at 816-508-3590 if you are
interested in receiving any more information about the program or would like to
donate backpacks to help keep the program running efficiently.
Thanks
everyone for all of your support!
Kelly Hughes