As part of RC 10’s ongoing commitment to Social Justice, our Council will be participating in the Regional Foodbank’s BackPack Program. This program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children on weekends when other food resources are not available. The program provides bags filled with food that are child-friendly, shelf-stable, and easily-consumed. Bags are packed each week by school staff and discreetly distributed to participating children every Friday afternoon. The bags are then returned on Monday to be refilled for the next weekend.
In the four counties that RC 10 represents, the following school districts currently have a Regional Food Bank BackPack Program: Albany, Argyle, Averill Park, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Brunswick-Brittonkill, Capital Region BOCES, Cohoes, Corinth, Fort Edward, Greenwich, Guilderland, Hartford, Heatly, Hoosick Falls, Hudson Falls, Lansingburgh, Mechanicville, North Colonie, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Rensselaer, Schodack, Shenendehowa, South Glens Falls, Stillwater, Troy, Voorheesville, Watervliet, and Whitehall School Districts.
It costs the Regional Food Bank $183 to support a child for the entire year. There are never enough funds to provide for all the applicants so we are asking for the assistance of RC 10 members to contribute to this very worthy cause. No contribution is too small since our combined efforts will help to sustain the program.
If you would like to make a contribution, make checks payable to The Regional Food Bank, and mail to the Food Bank at 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110, Attention: Betsy Dickson. Write RC 10 BackPack Program/Name of School you would like to support in the memo section of your check. For example: RC 10 BackPack Program/ North Colonie. If you do not care which school gets the funds, simply write RC 10 BackPack Program. Donations are tax-deductible and all donors will receive a donor acknowledgment letter. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara McCarthy at irishiz9@aol.com or phone her at 518-682-2814. Thank you for your anticipated generosity.
UPDATE: As of March 20, the Regional Food Bank has received $1,977 in contributions from RC 10 members. The generosity of our members is phenomenal and will be felt at the local level as they are able to serve the neediest children in the schools that our members retired from. If you haven't had an opportunity to make your contribution, please read the above article. Another update will be forthcoming in late May. Thank you again for your generous response. ~Barbara McCarthy, Social Justice Committee