By Kathy Brown.
On Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, the HK Backpack Program will be holding a Family Fun Event at the Higganum Community Center on Candlewood Drive, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free with a non-perishable food donation, or $3 per person (children under 2 are free). They are in need of shelf-stable milk, canned vegetables and fruit, soup, Chef Boyardee, Hamburger Helper, canned tomato sauce, plastic bottles of jelly or jam, and cereal. All food needs to be shelf stable; no glass.
The HK Backback Program, part of a national initiative, was founded in 2015 with the goal of helping to feed our community’s children. Children at risk of weekend hunger receive a backpack of food that is child-friendly, nutritious, nonperishable, and easy to prepare/eat. The program started with approximately 15 children, and now they are serving nearly 65 children on average every school year, according to Amber Stamm, the Director as well as the founder of the local program. They provide backpacks for students at Killingworth Elementary, Burr Elementary, Haddam Killingworth Middle School, and Haddam Killingworth High School.
At the Family Fun Event, there will be local vendors and crafters, as well as a bounce house, games, henna tattoos, crafts, face painting, a raffle, fudge, food, and treats! The event is also hosted by the Haddam Killingworth Youth & Family Services. If you don’t have children, come for lunch or a snack, and to see the vendors. All proceeds will go directly back into feeding the children of Regional School District #17. For more information, see their website or email HKbackpackprogram@gmail.com.
Last September, they received their official non-profit status, so all donations are tax deductible. Their Amazon wishlist can be found HERE. They run solely on volunteers and donations, and are dedicated to the children of our community. “We rely heavily on the generosity of Haddam, Killingworth, and Higganum townspeople and are so very grateful for the kindness, support and love they continue to give our program,” said Amber. “We have a dedicated team of volunteers that help pack, deliver, and assist with various other program-related tasks throughout the year (advertising, food drives, social media outreach, youth outreach). This fundraiser in particular provides them with a financial cushion during the “tough winter months after the holidays when donations slow down.”
Come down to the Higganum Community Center on Oct. 13 and have fun while supporting our community’s children!
