Food items collected at mall for BackPack program

Staff report

NILES

Eastwood Mall will collect nonperishable food items through Sunday as part of Second Harvest Food Bank’s BackPack program.

The program sends 300 needy schoolchildren home with food for the weekend.

“School feeding programs only go so far,” said Joe Bell, director of corporate communications for The Cafaro Co. Bell said the program was started by a school nurse in Arkansas who thought something needed to be done for students who didn’t get a decent meal outside of class.

Bell said the program benefits third- and fourth-graders in Campbell and Warren. Suggested food items include single-serving juice boxes, applesauce cups, fruit cups, single-serving shelf-stable milk boxes, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly in plastic containers, soup, Spaghetti-Os and other single-serving snacks including crackers, cookies and granola bars.

The National Council of Feeding America approved the BackPack program as a national one in 2006. Today, there are more than 1,800 Back-Pack programs nationwide.

Eastwood Mall shoppers can drop off food in bins located at the Art Outreach Gallery, Big Lots, Captain McFinn Gift Shop, the Customer Service Center and in the Target concourse. Those who donate will be entered into a contest for a giveaway.