Food in a Backpack matching grant announced
Delavan-Darien School District staff recently announced a matching grant by Monroe Funeral Home to the district’s elementary schools’ Food in a Backpack program.
At the end of each school week, students at Turtle Creek and Darien Elementary School can receive a small grocery bag of food to tide them over for the weekend. Mac n’ cheese, soup and oatmeal are examples of items included in the bags.
“This is the seventh year of providing this service to children in the local community,” district officials stated in a press release about the program.
Historically, the Food in a Backpack program has been funded and distributed by the following five Delavan area churches: Christ Episcopal, First Baptist, Luther Memorial, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church and United Church of Christ of Delavan. Each congregation contributes $1,000 to a general fund, which can provide 50 children with a bag of food each week of the school year.
“Throughout the life of the program the numbers of children served has ranged from 85 to 110 students,” the release states. “Pat Tauscher from Monroe Funeral Home has stepped forward to help our community meet this need.”
To kick-start the community funding and community support, Monroe Funeral Home in Delavan is offering a challenge gift of up to $2,000.
“You, your business or community service organization can participate by sending or bringing funds directly to Turtle Creek Elementary School,” officials said.
Donations should be marked as “Monroe Challenge Grant” and checks made out to Turtle Creek Elementary School, which can be sent 324 Beloit St., Delavan, WI 53115.
