CIS Helps with the Alexander County Backpacks Program

 

Members of both branches of Communities In Schools of Wilkes County joined forces last Wednesday to help pack backpacks of food for Alexander County students. Staff members met at First Baptist Church in Taylorsville to compile the bags of weekend necessities – which are received by area students enrolled in the program.

Sponsored by the Taylorsville Rotarians, the Alexander County Backpacks program began six years ago with aim to supply weekend meals for area students.

 

With food costs ever rising, it should come as no surprise that weekend meals during the school year cost $135 dollars per student.  With 300 students being served – and the number ever growing – this outreach operates solely on donations. Their biggest supplier? Galaxy Foods: a locally owned grocery store that offers a huge price cut on necessary inventory.

The Backpacks program serves identified students at all seven Alexander elementary schools, as well as both middle schools, and the Head Start program.  Area high school students have access to a food pantry located on campus. 

Angie Yates, a site coordinator for Alexander County, remarks of the CIS staff:

“The staff members from Wilkes were a huge help.  It is amazing to see the collaboration between the two counties.  I believe it shows how we feel about students regardless of their geographical location and . . . [our] desire to help them.”

If you would like more information on the Backpacks program, please click here, or contact Angie Yates by email, or at 828-495-4611.

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