How can you help!
Together, we are facing an unprecedented health crisis in our community. In response to the COVID-19, we must depend on the knowledge and guidance of the First District Health Unit, North Dakota Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as our elected officials.
If you are looking for a way to help during this health crisis, please read the below information.
To be sure that we are getting the bags out to families that receive Backpack Buddies bags, volunteers will be sitting at each of the seven schools Friday, March 20th from 2-3pm, handing out food to families that have previously signed up to receive them. With special thanks to our partner program, Companions For Children, we feel that our missions align to serve the children of our community to the best of our ability therefore we are teaming up. Brokers 12 has graciously offered to help get us through this process with additional volunteer help at this time. If you are NOT a family that has signed up to receive this food, we kindly ask that you please refrain from coming to the schools to save it for the families that are relying on it.
We will be hosting an emergency food drive beginning right away for the following items that will be available for families to access while they are picking their Backpack Buddies bags up on Friday. The items on this flyer are things that regular bags contain and are chosen for their ease to prepare as well as helping to keep the bag as light as possible. We encourage you to focus on the mac & cheese and oatmeal to start with, and if stores happen to run out of either of these items, additional items are listed as options. PLEASE try not to bring canned goods, items not listed on this flyer, anything in a glass container, or expired food.
- Granola bars
- Individual snack bags of popcorn
- Mac & cheese cups
- Tuna packets
- Chicken salad snack packs
- Instant oatmeal
- Applesauce cups
- Fruit cups
If you are not comfortable going to the store to purchase these items and dropping them off at the Souris Valley United Way office, you are more than welcome to make a monetary donation that will be designated to this effort and food will be purchased on your behalf. Click here to donate now and include "Backpack Buddies" in the memo line.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they are available on ways you can help. Please reach out to us via email or Facebook messenger if you are interested in helping in any way. Help us spread the word by sharing this post to get the word out regarding the need for food items while people stay in their homes.
This is a time that we’d like to share a reminder as to the true meaning of what it means to #liveunited!