Upshur to expand backpack program
BUCKHANNON — Through a non-traditional feeding program grant, Upshur County Schools will now have the opportunity to expand its backpack program.
Cynthia Nesselroade, child nutrition director for Upshur County, announced that the county had received $20,000 to expand the backpack services during a recent Upshur County Board of Education meeting.
With the grant, Nesselroade said she would like to expand phase one, in which 30 or so backpacks were being sent home with students at the end of each week.
“Obviously we want to make that bigger … The plan is to try to get a pantry in the high school,” she said. “And we’ve already talked with the principal about where we could try to locate that.”
“The grant was written around us trying to take the stigma out of a weekend backpack,” she said.
Nesselroade said in the past, a number of students had expressed that they needed or wanted food; however, “kids would not come and get (the food).”
“So we’re trying to figure out a way at that secondary level — little ones will just take off with anything,” she said.
In order to change the stigma, Nesselroade said she wants to make the backpacks something the students would enjoy by having the kids design the logo.
“We’re going to try to make it very cool to get a wellness bag instead of a backpack,” she said. “I’m trying to change the direction and we’re going to promote it as a weekend wellness pack.”
Pirate Packs and Swag Bags are some options for names of the weekend wellness bag, Nesselroade said.
“The actual pack itself would be like their Swag Bag they would get like the stars do when they go somewhere,” she said.
Nesselroade said she and the others involved in the program have “a good plan.”
Board president Dr. Tammy Samples asked how many backpacks Nesselroade foresees being received by students.
“A lot more because I’ve asked for money for food, so I’ve already got set aside several thousands of dollars just for food, and I say, you’re going to end up, I’ll bet we’ll be pushing out of there in the beginning, I’m guessing 200,” said Nesselroade. “I’m hoping. I’m wanting it to be any child that wants it or needs it at the high school level.”