TREMONTON - By Ellen Cook, Headliner Media Specialist, December 6, 2022
Tis the season to be giving and if you are looking for a worthwhile opportunity to give this holiday season, look no further than Alice C. Harris Intermediate School and their Backpack Fridays.
School principal David Lee said that program has been in operation for about five years and is run by guidance counselors, Kim Miller and Bobbi Jones. Through it, backpacks are filled for students who could use help with meals to get them through the weekend.
“During the week they have access to breakfast at school and lunch at school, so they get two meals, which is pretty decent. But over the weekends, they may need some help,” he said. “There are really no criteria for who gets it. The counselors know which kids have been identified, either through parents or the kids themselves, to send home a “very discrete backpack, so it doesn’t look like they are taking home a bag of groceries.”
The counselors try to supply items that can easily be prepared by the recipient, such as bread, peanut butter and jam (smaller containers), granola bars, individual containers of macaroni and cheese or Rice-a-Roni, bags of cereal or shelf milk. “We like stuff that is not a lot of prep for the kids, things they can stick in the microwave. Kids need to be able to make it themselves,” Lee added.
Lee said donations will be accepted at the school or other arrangements can be made. “People can either contact Harris Intermediate (435-515-5000) or they can bring items into the school (515 N. 800 W., Tremonton), or we can make arrangements to pick it up,” he said.
While the school right now does not have a large number of students in need, Miller said that number could certainly go up, and likely will. That is why they are asking for donations of the items listed, or even a financial donation from people or businesses in the community to help purchase those items.
“If you feel that you are in the giving mood, we would love some of that,” Miller said in a Facebook post.
Local schools throughout northern Box Elder County also provide similar programs and services to students. Please contact individual schools for more information.
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