Backpack Buddies program helps needy kids get school supplies



MEQUON (WITI) -- They're a fun backpack accessory! Backpack Buddies are now on sale at Balistreri owned Sendik's Food Markets.

"I picked the monkey because it was really cute," says 12-year-old Elle Fair.

While they're fun, they're also making a big difference in the lives of low-income children.

"I'm sure it feels horrible to feel like you can't get supplies for your kids, so we really want to help with that," says Samara Fangman as she was buying a Backpack Buddy for her son.

Sendik's has been teaming up with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for the past 6 years to sell the cute stuffed animals, while using the money raised to buy backpacks and school supplies for children in need.

'There are over 105,000 children that rely on food from Feeding America and we know that these families are also struggling to provide the necessary school supplies for the start of the school year," says Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Communications Manager Gina Styer.

100% of the proceeds go to the cause.

"A lot of times a lot of the efforts like this are only 5% or 10% so to hear that it's 100% made it much more appealing to us, so we're going to get 4 of them," says Fangman.

Last year, the program gave nearly 1,000 backpacks to Milwaukee Public School students.

"A lot of the schools that we distribute to have a high percentage of free and reduced priced lunch usually about the 90% threshold and above," says Styer.

The backpacks are delivered at the beginning of the school year to a crowd of very excited students.

"To see the kids faces is incredible and the very first time I was moved to tears because I had no idea the absolute excitement these kids would feel," says Balistreri owned Sendik's Food Markets owner Margaret Harris.

Filling backpacks with supplies and filling hearts with joy.

Backpack Buddies are on sale now through September 3rd at ten Balistreri owned Sendik's Food Market locations.

Here is a link to those locations... http://www.sendiksmarket.com/home/locations/

The cost is 2 for $10.