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Most folks in the Keweenaw have heard of 31 Backpacks, a local charity that fights hunger for area students by providing groceries for children who might not have enough at home. If you’ve ever asked yourself where funding comes from for such a program, much of it comes from the support of others, like a recent donation from the Keweenaw Health Foundation.
“Our fundraising has been deeply impacted due to the Father’s Day Flood, understandably. We’re still trying to maintain and take care of 200 (give or take) at risk students making sure that they have food on the weekends and during the winter and spring breaks,” said Melissa Maki of 31 Backpacks.
Contributions like the one made by the Aspirus Keweenaw Health Foundation are essential to that program. Executive Director of the Keweenaw Health Foundation Ed Jenich said, ‘The Board of Directors for the Keweenaw Health Foundation has decided that they want to make a contribution and one of the contributions is to give $10,000 to 31 Backpacks.”
Around school vacations like Christmas break and Spring break, 31 backpacks is well known for providing area students in need with enough household food items to get through that period, but the organization continues that mission throughout the year. In fact, every single week a group of volunteers meets and fills bags full of food that get sent to area schools, and for some children, the assistance is a large part of their regular diet. Jenich said, ‘This organization has an impact into the livelihood of the younger people who are going to school in the entire Copper Country.”
Jenich says that the integrity of the charity was a deciding factor when selecting a recipient for the donation. “Our group takes a look at everything from soup to nuts, as you might describe it, and with that they see who is most worthy, doing the most with the amount of money that’s given. With this money they will be able to continue giving at Christmas time when the schools are closed for a period of time,” said Jenich.
Along with donations, 31 Backpacks is always accepting volunteers as well. “It’s a minor contribution of time on a weekly basis and we encourage everybody from the community to come out and help us out,” Maki said. Weekly packings are completed Thursday mornings at Glad Tidings Church in Hancock.
