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Backpack Buddies Program Launched by the Food Bank for Westchester, the BGCNW and the Junior League Of Northern Westchester

Mount Kisco, NY - (April 9, 2010) - Volunteers from the Junior League of Northern Westchester (JLNW), with assistance from the Food Bank for Westchester, recently launched the Backpack Buddies program at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW).  The Backpack Buddies program is a trademarked program of Feeding America - the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief charity – which is implemented throughout Westchester County by the Food Bank for Westchester. 

Backpack Buddies provides healthy food and recipes to approximately 90 children, and their families, who attend the BGCNW’s after-school program. Backpacks filled with child-friendly, nonperishable, vitamin-fortified food will be distributed to children weekly and will include a recipe using the food provided. The financial support provided by JLNW will provide the funding needed for food acquisition.

"Sadly, children account for 36 percent of those in Westchester who are hungry or at risk of hunger. Together, our organizations are able to make a difference by regularly providing nutritious food for children and their families during weekends, when the children are not in school," said Christina Rohatynskyj, executive director for the Food Bank for Westchester.

JLNW president Kiersten Marich added, "When we learned about the startling number of children who are hungry in our community, we looked for ways to address the need. That’s when we turned to the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester and the Food Bank of Westchester. This partnership enables us to have a direct impact on improving the lives of the children and their families."

BGCNW also hosted a "Kids-in-the Kitchen" event in conjunction with the launch of Backpack Buddies, during which the children participated in cooking demonstrations; learned age-appropriate healthy eating tips; ran an obstacle course to learn about easy and fun ways to exercise; and planted a vegetable seed that they can watch grow. 

About Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW): BGCNW was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and enabling young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The 36,000-square-foot facility features an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, and two computer labs, and an additional 1,600-square-foot Teen Center facility. The Club serves 2,000 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY and can be reached at (914) 666-8069 or by visiting www.bgcnw.com. 

About Food Bank for Westchester: The Food Bank for Westchester's mission is to lead, engage and educate Westchester County in creating a hunger-free environment. It solicits and administers donations from both the public and private sector, distributing food through approximately 200 hunger relief member agencies. Its core activity is the collection and distribution of donated, government and purchased food. The Food Bank distributes more than five million pounds of food to member agencies annually. For more information, visit www.foodbankforwestchester.org, call 914-923-1100 or email katy.coppinger@foodbankforwestchester.org. 

About Junior League of Northern Westchester: The Junior League of Northern Westchester is a non-profit volunteer organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action of leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. For more information, visit www.jlnw.org, call 914-234-4714 or email info@jlnw.org. 

Press Contact: 

Kate Hutchings, JLNW, Community Impact Director 
Ph: 914-589-6705 
Kjhutch8@optonline.net 

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069