Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) was recently the recipient of two grants; one from the Mankato Clinic Foundation for $4,500 and one for $5,000 from Archer Daniels Midland Company. Both grants will be used toward funding for the BackPack Food Program.
The BackPack Food Program discreetly provides low-income students with packs of nutritious, child-friendly meals to take home for weekends and school breaks. Launched in March 2010, enrollment currently exceeds 740 students at all eleven Mankato elementary schools. As community support increases, FOCP will implement the BackPack Food Program at Saint Clair, Lake Crystal, and Maple River East and West elementary schools.
"These grants will help to provide weekend hunger relief for area elementary-school students." said Melinda Wedzina, executive director of FOCP. "With the expansion of the program to the outlying elementary schools in Blue Earth County in the 2015-16 school year, we need funding like this to not only maintain the currently enrolled schools, but also to help feed the estimated 200 extra students that will join the program in the fall."
The Mankato Clinic Foundation provides resources to organizations and endeavors that effectively promote and improve community health and wellness. Since the primary focus of the Foundation is to support health and well-being of the community, projects and programs supported include education and scholarships initiatives focused on health care, health education and wellness.
The physicians at the Mankato Clinic provide the majority of the Foundation funding as a means to give back to the community by providing support to organizations which strive to improve health and wellness. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis and are considered only through the application process. Applications can be obtained at mankatoclinic.com.
The Archer Daniels Midland Company donation was given through ADM Cares. ADM Cares is a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in ADM communities and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities.