To the editor:
After healthcare, few institutions have been as affected by the COVID pandemic as our schools.
To keep everyone safe and healthy in 2020 and 2021, Brown County Schools rapidly shifted their scheduling to adjust to local health conditions. Often it was not known from week to week whether children would be learning in their school building, learning remotely or a combination of both.
Regardless of where they learned, children who were hungry still needed the weekend nutritional support they received through the Brown County Weekend Backpacks program. The dedicated, hands-on Backpack volunteers flexed right along with the schools, delivering weekend backpacks to students week after week wherever they were learning.
The Brown County Weekend Backpacks board found it necessary to cancel the Touch-A-Truck event in 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 is still with us and the safety of our volunteers and participants was the foremost priority. Despite the event cancelation, supporters of the Backpack program stepped up to ensure the fundraiser would still exceed its fundraising goal of $8,000.
Over the past school year 3,527 bags were distributed to children in food insecure households and additional food bags were distributed over the summer months. The Touch-A-Truck fundraiser donations fund those food costs.
We truly appreciate the support of our volunteers, donors and partners.
The Weekend Backpacks board recently had a big check presentation with Bruce Calloway of the Duke Energy Foundation.
Thank you to all the sponsors of the Touch-A-Truck event: Bender Lumber, Steven and Rosann Boggs, Brown County Inn, Brown-Meadows Properties, Michael Chamblee Architects, Duke Energy, Charles and Barbara Handel, Deborah Herring, Jackson County REMC, Kelley Rentals, REMAX Team, Pit Bull Leather, PNC Bank, SCI-REMC, State Farm, Jan and Bill Swigert, Bev Teach and Dwight and Lisa Thompson.
For more information, please visit www.browncountytouchatruck.com and pencil the new Touch-A-Truck date of June 25, 2022 on your calendar.
The Brown County school district was especially supportive of our efforts during a very difficult time for them. We feel very blessed that so many people see the need for our program and continue to support it in so many ways. If you have questions or wish to help, please contact Jan Swigert at [email protected]. Checks may be sent to BCWB P.O. Box 160 Nashville, Indiana 47448.
Debbie Kelley, fundraising chair of Brown County Weekend Backpacks Inc.
