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As TV cameras rolled, an East Noble High School teacher who spent months devising a program to feed hungry students finally met some of the children benefiting from his efforts.
The meeting happened Thursday while “NBC Nightly News” cameras filmed a segment about the district’s Boomerang Backpack program, which began at South Side Elementary School in March.
The program hands out backpacks filled with child-friendly convenience foods every Friday.
Students return the empty backpacks on Mondays knowing they will be refilled with granola bars, cheese and crackers and other handy snacks.
Business teacher Mark Cockroft said he had seen similar programs at other school districts and figured it would be a good fit for Kendallville, which has suffered escalating unemployment since the economic downturn.
South Side Elementary was chosen because 64 percent of its students receive free or reduced-price lunches.
Parents of those students were given the option to participate.
Letters were sent to 184 families; 148 agreed to participate, Cockroft said.
That number has since increased to 156.
The response has been bigger than Cockroft expected. “Which I think shows the need we have in communities in northeastern Indiana,” he said.
Several East Noble High School students have helped to plan and implement the program, Cockroft said. Those students, who shop at a local discount grocery store, do it as part of the school’s community-service program.
While local groups, businesses and individuals have donated to the program – including an anonymous $2,000 gift that allowed the program to expand to Rome City Elementary School – Cockroft said more donations are needed.
“Well, we’re struggling right now,” Cockroft said, adding that it can be tough to ask businesses to donate while they struggle with layoffs.
Cockroft, who hopes eventually to expand the backpack program to more of the district’s elementary schools, said he was left with a feeling of satisfaction after meeting some of the students who have been helped.
“It’s actually kind of emotional to see those kids and see what has been taking place,” Cockroft said.
No air date has been set, but the profile will air as part of the “NBC Nightly News” segment, “Making a Difference,” which generally runs Fridays.
