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Van Diest re-elected WC board president

Hartnett gives talk on backpack program success

Beth Van Diest was elected as president and Michelle Walters was elected vice president of the Webster City school board. Both women took the oath of office during Monday night’s board session.

Lori Hartnett, one of the Food Service Directors for the schools, led the Hamilton High community service presentation about the successful backpack program that was instituted seven years ago. The program provides meals for students from K-12 that are not getting the proper sustenance provided at home.

During her presentation, she talked about a couple of students who had shared they only had stale cheetos or spoiled milk at home. This really became a calling for her to do something, according to Hartnett.

She then reached out to the Rev. Mike Kroona at the Trinity Lutheran Church to begin the backpack program.

The program is averaging about 115 meals per week, distributed to the High School, the Middle School, Sunset Heights Elementary, and Pleasant View Elementary Schools. Fareway donates grocery bags to the cause and after students receive some non-perishable items, such as cups of veggies, macaroni and cheese, and fresh produce when available, the school counselors will distribute the bags discreetly into the students’ backpacks.

The program tries to give students foods that are high in nutrients, but also that they will actually eat, according to Hartnett. The highlight of the program is knowing that out of the 36 weeks in a school year, students in need are receiving about 4,140 meals, with each meal averaging in cost about $5.

The program is funded donations from different programs and businesses, said Hartnett. The Food Bank of Iowa provides all the food for K-5 for free. The Iowa Central Community College Truck Driving program will actually go to the Food Bank in Des Moines, as practice driving for their program and pick up the food to deliver it for free to Trinity Lutheran Church. The rest of the funds for the other age groups come through free will donations through church offerings as well as groups such as Kiwanis and the Lion’s Club. Businesses will also donate when they are able to. Fareway provides the remainder of the food for the 6th-12th grades and will provide discounts when possible.

The assembly and storage of the backpack program is held in the basement at Trinity Lutheran church, which is where the Hamilton High students will haul the boxes out of the ICCC trucks, whether it’s in rain, sleet, or snow. The volunteer packers will then assemble all of the food items into the bags and put them into the tubs to be taken to the schools when ready, said Hartnett.

The Hamilton High students will then unload the separate food tubs being distributed to each individual school when the care packages are assembled and ready to be dispensed.

“The backpack program is a success due to the many hands that help,” said Hartnett.

In other business, the board approved contracts for Kevin Farwell for the position of high School Night Custodian and Riley Bedford for Part-Time High School Night Custodian. They also approved the contract for Jessi Sukraw as a Sunset Heights Paraeducator, as well as Carrie Turner’s transfer from Middle School Paraeducator to Sunset Heights Elementary Paraeducator and Secretary.

Cutline: From left, Michelle Mota 17, and Sydney Wardell 17, both seniors at Hamilton High were in attendance for the community service presentation given by Laurie Hartnett, one of the Food Service Directors for the schools.

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