1. St. Joseph Elementary School By Anne Porto, Janet Folkerts, Joyce Park, Emily Haberkorn

4. About the town -Population: 4,008 -Estimated Median House Income: $58,607 -Race: 98% White Retrieved from: http://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Joseph-Illinois.html

7. About the school population 3 schools in the town (elementary, middle, and high school): 1,365 students total Retrieved from: http://www.localschooldirectory.com/city-schools/St.-Joseph/IL Needs within school community: In both the elementary and the middle school, 160 students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

8. Blessings in a Backpack Assets of the community: Desire to give back and take care of one another -Blessings in a Backpack -Provides food to students on weekends -First Year -Started by Dana Rowland (PTC) and Amber Hughes

9. About the program -Was 157 students, now 77 students -Students’ identity is kept hidden -$80 feeds one student for 38 weekends -Paired with PTC and St. Joseph Women’s Club Tuesday: Place food order Wednesday: Pack backpacks Friday: Food goes home

10. What’s in the backpack? -Can of soup -Fruit -Pasta -Granola bar -Oatmeal

11. Other perspectives/conflicts -Embarrassed -Don’t need the help -Some issues with teachers forgetting

12. How does the program benefit the S t. Joseph community? Blessings in a Backpack vision: Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this program. Retrieved from http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/ -Churches and community members involved -Recognize that there are those in need

13. How will this help us as teachers? -Be aware that not all students have the same resources -Effect of nourishment on academic achievement -Take action

14. References -Interview with Dana Rowland -http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/ -http://www.leaderlandnews.com/news/education/2013- 08-29/group-raising-funds-feed-children.htmlhttp://www.leaderlandnews.com/news/education/2013- 08-29/group-raising-funds-feed-children.html -http://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Joseph-Illinois.htmlhttp://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Joseph-Illinois.html -http://www.localschooldirectory.com/city-schools/St.- Joseph/IL