Telethon 2024: WA Backpack Buddies program for disadvantaged students makes big impact

A pioneering WA program that sends disadvantaged students home from school with a backpack full of food for the weekend has had an extraordinary impact on attendance and engagement in the classroom.

With families across the state struggling with the cost of living, it is children who may be the silent victims of the crisis, left to go hungry while their parents struggle to put food on the table.

Although many schools have breakfast programs during term time, children are left alone on weekends and during school holidays.

Inspired by a similar program in the US – and armed with a generous grant from Telethon – Bridge Builders chief executive Kelly Hinder founded Backpack Buddies earlier this year.

Through the initiative, at-risk children discreetly receive a backpack filled with kid-friendly food on Fridays, which covers seven meals over the weekend.

Hinder said the trial started with one school and five children, but quickly expanded to 130 children in 14 schools in Peel Region – with at least 80 more children identified as needing help.

“We heard a lot of stories about kids who were stressed about holidays and weekends because they didn’t know where their next meal was coming from,” she said.

“As a parent, you always try to hide things from your children as much as possible, but they are very good at understanding the little things. . . It’s a lot for anyone to take on, but for a child – it’s not something a child should worry about.

“They should be focused on being kids and going to school and that should be the extent of their concerns.

“But right now they have so many things going on in their little brains that they’re trying to deal with, so our program is trying to help with one small area of ​​that.”

Ms Hinder said schools reported an increase in the attendance rate of the children involved and teachers also noted improvements in learning.

“Teachers are seeing an improvement in concentration and engagement in the classroom, and behavioral issues are changing because with hunger come all those ‘hungry’ type issues, so they’re not as stressed and angry in the classroom. start of classes,” she said.

“Some of the chaplains are saying they are also getting more parental involvement.”

Ms Hinder said parents were also grateful for the help.

“A lot of them said it helped them get through some tough times,” she said.

“They also appreciate the fact that this is done through the schools, because many parents in this situation don’t have money for gas to go to our food pantry.”

Ms. Hinder said separately that the organization’s food pantry has seen a 40 percent increase in demand compared to the same time last year.