A lifeline to help struggling families

Karen Peterson knows what it’s like to struggle to put food on the table.

As a new mom, she lived in Kasson and used the food shelf there.

“That’s one of the main reasons why we wanted to find a way to give back,” said Peterson, who eight years ago created a backpack program to provide weekend meals for students and families in Blooming Prairie.

Peterson explained that, in August 2016, someone posted in one of the local Facebook groups asking what needs weren’t being met in the community.

As someone who once experienced food insecurity, Peterson knew food was an issue, so initial conversations began with Channel One and a host site was found.

“We were met with resistance by some of the people in our school community, who said ‘No one needs the backpack program, no one is hungry in Blooming Prairie,'” she said.

The program started with 37 students in February 2017 and, at its highest point, had nearly 120 students.

Peterson explained the idea is for families who may or may not qualify for other forms of assistance to get food needed for meals on the weekends. 

“Our purpose is to try and ease the burden of food insecurity by sending home food each weekend during the school year with students who qualify for our services,” the organization’s mission statement reads.

Expanding program 

Despite those early naysayers, Peterson said, many families continue to use the backpack program each week. During the 2023-2024 school year, 92 students a week benefitted from the program. Last year, there were 86.

“We can see there is still a need,” Peterson said.

Although the program won’t completely feed families, she added, “It's giving them a little bit extra to have on the weekend.”

A group of volunteers who are part of the St. Columbanus Parish faith formation classes pack bags every week. The backpacks are sent out on Thursdays.

Inside, there's food for the children and enough for the adults to make meals, too, as Peterson explained some of the most important conversations families have revolve around meals. 

In addition, Peterson explained Kwik Trip came out with its Kwik Trip Kares program a few years ago, which helps provide bread, eggs, and other items for families in need. 

Since there is no Kwik Trip in Blooming Prairie, Peterson said the company offered seven vouchers given to families during the school year to cover the cost of a gallon of milk, eggs, a loaf of bread, and up to $5 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Vandal's Family Market helps sponsor the program by paying for 20% worth of the vouchers submitted.

During the summer, it is an opt in program with 37 out of 45 backpack program families participating. 

Struggles 

Aside from economic strains, one of the challenges facing the Blooming Prairie and other backpack programs is Channel One moving away from supplying them food. Instead, the regional food bank encourages people to use food shelves.

In fact, Peterson recently learned that Blooming Prairie's is the only remaining backpack program in the county.

“It's not like we’re completely gone obsolete," she said, explaining there are other nearby programs.

Peterson said she is concerned about those who can't get what they need only through food shelves, especially in rural areas like Blooming Prairie.

“That’s great in theory, but what about people who don’t have the ability to get to the food shelf or can’t visit the mobile food pantry that comes to Blooming Prairie,” Peterson said. “What about those people, and do they not matter?”

Despite some setbacks, Peterson knows many families have been served in the community, and people continue to support the backpack program.

“I’ve definitely found a way to give back to my community after using the food shelf when my little guy was a baby,” she said.

To donate or for more information visit bpbackpackprogram.org.