Roundup Backpack Program (RBP) is a non-profit organization focused on tackling food insecurity in our community. The organization distributes weekend food to Roundup kids. The qualifying child/young adult is recommended by the teachers or school staff or as a request by the parent(s). This is done discreetly to protect the identity of the recipient. There is an opt-out letter in the first bag that is sent home for those that do not feel the need for it. We work to serve children of all ages, including Head Start, Elementary, Junior High and High School. For the last two years we have provided weekend bags for the John Iverson Youth Center for the summer weekends. The head start and elementary bags are sent to us directly from the Montana Food Bank Network, who are our partners. We assemble bags for the older kids using more suitable, age-appropriate food, and are also supplying coats, hats, and mittens when they are needed. We average 50 to 60 kids per week during the school year. The High School has a cabinet with health and beauty aids and hygiene products also. Northern treasures supplies jump start health and beauty bags for all of the kids at the beginning of the year.

This valuable program results in improved motor skills, memory and social interaction, reduction in grade repetition, tardiness, anxiety, aggression, and behavior problems in class. It has also been shown to improve math and reading scores, and improve physical and cognitive development. Twenty percent of Montana children are food insecure. This often results in parents depriving themselves in order to give the children more.

The generosity of the community of Roundup has supported RBP for the last three years without any assistance from grant funding, with an exception of a donation from Signal peak this last year. We hope our community will continue to be the support behind this life changing program. I would like to extend a special thank you to 4 women that have gone above and beyond to help us this year: Peggy Toombs, Wilma Mihalovich, Jill Scott, and Denelle Smith have been industriously making masks and helping raise money for the backpack program -- the masks have been in Radio Shack and The Alley Cut. Money raised so far is going to cover a large part of our budget this year. I would also like to thank the people that helped last year on a weekly basis. Nancy Anderson, Kaycee Nellermore, Julia Krantz Sirovetz, Millie Vescovi, Stephanie and Trish at the high school and of course the many that contributed to the Christmas Stroll.

If you would like to contribute to the cause, there is an account at First Security Bank, or you can send donations to Doreen Rech @ 324 3rd Ave West or Robin Sibley @ 915 3rd Street East. Please feel free to contact Doreen anytime for questions at 323-1245 or see us on facebook under Roundup Backpack Program.

Thank you so much for your continued support!