Douglas Dems help students in need take food home for weekends
 It’s a sad fact that some Douglas County kids go hungry on weekends because their families are homeless or extremely needy. Douglas County Democrats are helping to make sure these children get their necessary nutrients through the Backpack Buddies Programs in four county elementary schools.
Donations are critically needed, says Backpack Buddies Programs chair Lin Larson. Recently, the C.C. Meneley Elementary School program had no food to send home with the children. Luckily, a $50 donation from a member of the Central Committee helped, along with other cash contributions, to buy enough food.
The way it works: Children, referred by their school counselor, take home backpacks filled with fruit and nonperishable food items that are donated or purchased with cash contributions. A coordinator and volunteers at each site collect the food and fill the backpacks.
Last November, a consortium was formed to help students in all seven elementaries, but three schools reported that they didn’t need to participate. For now, programs at C.C. Meneley, Gardnerville, Jacks Valley and Scarselli schools are helping 145 students every week.
Douglas Democrats have donated both food and money to the program for the past several months, but contributions are always welcome. Monetary donations are preferred so that the volunteers can control the inventory, but items on the Product Shopping List are always appreciated, Lin Larson says. People can also help by spreading the word about the need.
At Christmastime, children also took home ski hats, stuffed animals and $20 Target gift cards donated by Grand Sierra Resort. Every other week, Trader Joe’s donates two pieces of fruit to each of the program’s children at Jacks Valley.
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