Malden-based Bread of Life hosts Backpack Nutrition Program and weekly food distribution for Everett families

  Bread of Life, which is headquartered in Malden, runs a Backpack Nutrition Program and a weekly mobile market/food distribution for Everett families.

  “Each month we supply a backpack filled with nutritious snacks and food for Everett students,” Bread of Life Development Director Patty Kelly said. “This effort is in collaboration with Everett school officials.”

  To date, nearly 7,000 backpacks have been distributed to Everett students, and the need is growing.

  In addition to the Backpack Nutrition Program, Bread of Life also runs a mobile market/food distribution for Everett residents each Thursday, operating out of the Lafayette School. More than 100 families per week receive groceries and other items from Bread of Life’s Mobile Market. This program continues to grow to serve more families.

  According to Bread of Life Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack, the Everett Backpack Nutrition Program provides 240 backpacks of food per month to students of the Lafayette, Whittier and Parlin Schools, as well as the high-needs students group. The bags are distributed by school principals and staff, who identify each month the students who are most in need of food assistance.

  A teacher in the Everett Public Schools English Learner Department said about the backpack program: “Kids will never tell you that they need food or they’re hungry. They’re too ashamed. The backpacks are a great solution. They can say, ‘Can I have a snack bag? I love those chips.’ But they can actually make meals from the contents. It has cereal, milk, raisins, juice, crackers, tuna, peanut butter, fruit cup, Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, Cup of Soup. One 12-year-old student confided to the teacher that she couldn’t get supper at home regularly because her mom worked late. The backpacks supplied her supper.”

  Research has shown that poor nutrition is linked to increased illness and impairs concentration, learning and school performance of children. Each backpack that they distribute contains items such as: small cartons of milk and juice, single-serving boxes of cereal, raisins, granola bars, pretzels or chips, applesauce or fruit cups, cans of ravioli, cup of soup, peanut butter, crackers, tuna-to-go pouches, bottled water, hot cocoa mix, candy, nuts, microwave popcorn, plastic cutlery. Non-food items they provide for the school staff to distribute at their discretion include such things as new blankets, gloves, hats, socks, hand warmers, tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwash, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, body powder, pencils, notebooks, laundry detergent, bath towels and washcloths. Since this program began in November 2019, it has distributed more than 8,000 backpacks. The program has received funding in the past from The Foundation Trust in Melrose and the Everett Citizens Foundation. Everett CDBG funds will enable them to continue to provide this nutrition for low- and moderate-income students.

  Some additional info:

  · Each backpack weighs 6.5 pounds

  · Food donations always needed and appreciated

  · String backpacks always needed (34x 43 cm/13.39 x 16.93 inches)

  · Monetary donations always appreciated

  · The program currently serves Everett students. Bread of Life is hoping to expand to Malden, pending need and funding.

  Bread of Life Backpack Coordinator Brandon King said they deliver backpacks to schools, and school officials distribute backpacks, as they feel necessary. He added that healthy nutrition is imperative to school performance.“No child should have to worry about food or where their next meal is coming from,” King said. “One of the main keys to learning is being well nourished.”

  Back in 2019 when he was the coordinator for Bread of Life’s Everett pantry, Teri O’Brien was doing community outreach at the high school, and the principal explained that there were around 100 students there that were couch surfing, living out of cars or homeless and were struggling with food insecurity. “We wanted to distribute food to these kids, and our top priority was to do it in a way that helped maintain their dignity,” King said. “We ultimately decided on backpacks, as it is a convenient and discreet way for the kids to take the food with them.”

  Although O’Brien passed away, the program continues in her honor.