Increase in Snack in a Backpack Meals During Covid-19 Pandemic

Fannin Sentinel

February 27, 2020, Page 5A

Supporters of Snack in a Backpack donned Mardi Gras beads and masks, raising an estimated $10,000 Feb. 22 at the ninth annual Bringing the Blues to Blue Ridge.  
Guests flowed into Mercier Orchards late Saturday evening to kick-off annual festivities that help raise money to support Snack in a Backpack’s mission of feeding Fannin children when not in school.

Executive Director Debby Beck said, “This has been inspiring. There are so many people who have worked on the event for months, gathering auction items, securing donors and getting the word out.”  

Both Beck and Snack Board Chairman Mike Nunnally thank emeritus member Carl Pruett and the Crossroads Band for continuing to support eh nonprofit’s mission and purpose since its founding over 10 years ago.  

“Childhood hunger is very real and a very real concern in Fannin County,” Nunnally told guests Saturday evening. In the local Fannin County School System, 67 percent of children are on free and reduced lunch. Like cogs on a wheel or gears that aid in helping something function properly, Snack fills a role of feeding kids on weekends and helping the summer meal program continue on an almost 12-month cycle.

Over the past year, Nunnally said Mercier Orchards has donated 2.25 tons of apples on a weekly basis that goes into the more than 400 packs that kids take home throughout the school year.

In 2018 and 2019 over 100,000 meals went out to help give kids in need of nourishment until returning to school Monday through Friday.

Volunteering along with Nunnally on the Snack in a Backpack Board are Vice Chairman Rev. Ron Wikander, Recording Secretary Toots Greene, Mary Langford, Jeanie May, Brian Munch, and Greg Spencer.  

Nunnally also added a special thanks to Todd and Greer Plunkett who came to Snack in a Backpack years ago when success of the nonprofit ran on a quarter to quarter basis. Now with the help of the fundraiser, William B. Orkin Foundation and donations from Blue Ridge Dentistry, they fill in with additional monies to purchase food for the remaining school year.  

Beck ran the annual 2020 Bringing the Blues to Blue Ridge fundraiser for the first time since starting as executive director in June 2019. She said, “Most of the Snack volunteers have been involved for a while. They have helped me immensely since I was hired last June.”

The loyalty and hard work of volunteers and board members bring a variety of skill sets and talent to the effort, Beck added. “They are dedicated to helping children.”
Guests enjoyed bidding on a variety of auction items as well as live auction packages that included wild water rafting and zip-lining, overnight treehouse stay and dinner, fishing adventure and a two-night Blue Ridge Cottage stay.
Cajun food ranging from crab cakes and jambalaya to the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake livened up the pre-Fat Tuesday themed event.

Each month we are serving more children in Fannin County schools and we are grateful to have the resources to run the program.” Beck said, adding that a priority moving forward for the board of directors in 2020 “is to have the most nutritional food in our bags that they can possibly provide.”

Beck brings a wealth of experience in her role as executive director, having previously served for nine years as the Development Coordinator for “Florida’s Children First.” She spent time raising money for public policy advocacy for children in the foster care system.

For more information on donating or volunteering, visit Snack’s newly redesigned website at www.snackinabackpack.org