BackPack, Power Pack & Summer Pack
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Q: What is the BackPack Food Program and how do FOCP's programs work?
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The BackPack, Power Pack and Summer Pack food programs are all initiated by Feeding Our Communities Partners. For each of these 3 programs, breakfast, lunch and a snack are provided to enrolled students for each day of the weekend or school break The child-friendly food is confidentially placed in backpacks by school staff or delivered directly to student homes over the summer. Learn more about each specific program by viewing their pages: BackPack Food Program, Power Pack Food Program, Summer Pack Program
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Q: Is there any cost for the food packs?
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No, the packs are cost free to those enrolled in the program.
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Q: What food items can i expect in my food pack?
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Food packs contain child-friendly, single-serving, non-perishable items for breakfast, lunch and a snack each day of the weekend/school break. We have four different combinations of menus, made up of the following food items:
Breakfast Items: Instant Oatmeal, Variety of Cereals, Fruit Cup, Flavored Applesauces & Craisins. Snack Items: Peanut Butter/Cheese Crackers, Fruit Cup, Flavored Applesauces, Apple Cinnamon Granola Bar, Flavored Grahams, Cheddar Crackers, Pretzels & Pizza Crackers. Lunch Items: Mac & Cheese, Lasagna, Sketti O's, Pasta O's with Beef, Ramen, Variety of Canned Soups, Flavored Grahams, Applesauce, Peas & Corn. Drink Items: Vegetable Juice Drink, Fruit Juice Drink & Hot Chocolate. |
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Q: Will anyone else know that my child is receiving food?
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Only the program administrators and your child’s teacher will know.
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Q: How often do I need to update my information?
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In order to continue receiving food, you will need to fill out a new enrollment form each school year. This entry is good through the entire school year, and automatically enrolls your child in our Summer Pack Program, but you DO need to fill out a new form once the summer ends.
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Q: What are Winter Break Deliveries?
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Winter Break Box Deliveries is an extended food distribution/event initiated by Feeding Our Communities Partners and A-OK. Learn more about the distribution and how it fits within the BackPack and Power Pack programs here.
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Q: Who can I contact if I don't receive my child's food pack?
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If you do not receive your food pack, please contact our Program Manager, Josh Sorenson at josh@focpmn.org or at 507-381-9155
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Q: Can I enroll my child if they are homeschooled?
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You can definitely enroll your homeschooled child, HOWEVER, you or a friend need to be able to pick up your child's pack from our warehouse weekly.
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Q: What if I move?
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Whether you move to a school district we serve, or move out of service range, call or email our Program Manager, Josh Sorenson at josh@focpmn.org or at 507-318-9155, to update your address. This way, if you're within our range, you can ensure your child continues to receive services.
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High School Pantry
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Q: What schools have high school
food pantries? Q: How do I receive food?
Q: Who should I contact to receive this food?
Q: When is the program available?
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High School Food Pantries are currently available at: Central High, Mankato East High, Mankato West High, Futures Program, St. Clair and Kato Public Charter.
Food is available via cinch sacks or physical pantries located at participating schools.
Check with your school social worker for access to your High School Food Pantry
High school pantry resources are available during the academic year. During the summer months, high school students may enroll in the Summer Pack Program to receive food support during the summer months.
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SummerTime Outreach Meal Program (STOMP)
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Q: What is STOMP?
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The SummerTime Outreach Meal Program is a program initiated by Feeding Our Communities Partners to provide summer lunch assistance to youth under 18. Learn more about the program here.
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Q: How does STOMP work?
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STOMP is a weekday lunch program that is available during the summer months. Each day during the week, volunteers bring individually packaged lunches to pre-decided drop-off locations. For each location, the volunteers will wait around 30 minutes for kids to arrive and grab their lunches (exact times will be communicated on our main STOMP page, and will be released closer to the summer). Lunches are available to all kids aged 18 or younger regardless of school system.
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General/Enrollment
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Q: What if my child has a special diet?
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If your child has a documented allergy or dietary restriction that fits within the following categories: no nuts, no dairy, no fish/shellfish, no gluten, wheat, soy, no pork or halal, we will custom-build their food pack each week to remove items not within their diet and replace them with items of similar nutritional value.
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Q: When will my child receive food?
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During the school year, food packs are discreetly distributed on Fridays or the last day of school before a long weekend or school break. Over the summer break, food is delivered monthly directly to your doorstep.
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Q: Who can participate in the BackPack, Power Pack and Summer Pack Program?
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This program is currently available to students at all Mankato Area Public Elementary Schools: Bridges, Eagle Lake, Franklin, Futures, Hoover, Jefferson, Kennedy, Monroe, Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Washington), as well as Immanuel Lutheran - Courtland, Immanuel Lutheran - Mankato, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, Loyola, Maple River, Nicollet, Risen Savior, St. Clair, Trinity Lutheran - Nicollet and Concordia Classical Academy.
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Q: Who should enroll in FOCP programs?
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If it is a struggle to provide three meals a day because of financial hardship, if your child is already enrolled in the reduced-price or free meal program at school or if your child would benefit from consistent nutritious food assistance on weekends, please consider enrolling your child. No financial documents are required to enroll.
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Q: Where can I get food for the rest of my family?
Q: What schools and grade levels does FOCP serve? |
If you need help immediately, ECHO Food Shelf is Blue Earth County and North Mankato’s emergency food assistance organization. ECHO provides 4-5 days worth of food for households in need. Please call (507) 345-7508 between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to register and place a food order.
FOCP has a variety of food programs available to meet the diverse nutritional needs of students in grades K-12. For a full district and school list view a map and list here!
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