NEW PALTZ- The New Paltz Central School District (NPCSD) wants to wish students participating in the District’s Backpack Program a “Happy Birthday” by providing them with a “Birthday Bag” to help celebrate their special day. Included in the Birthday Bag will be cake mix, frosting, candles, plates, napkins, and more.
The NPCSD Backpack Program, which is offered free of charge to students, is sponsored by and coordinated through the New Paltz Rotary Club with food from the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. Students who are signed up for the program receive a backpack filled with child-friendly, healthy food each Friday at the end of the school day. Students return the backpacks on Monday to be refilled during the week.
“We understand that purchasing groceries might be one of the places families turn to when needing to find ‘wiggle room’ in their budget,” said New Paltz Superintendent of Schools Steve Gratto. “The Backpack Program helps make sure that every child in the District has enough healthy, nutritious food to eat at home, and now, with the addition of Birthday Bags, we can help make sure that every student will also be able to enjoy something special on their birthday.”
For more information, contact either Laura Wild at lwild@newpaltz.k12.ny.us or Renee Reynolds at rreynolds@newpaltz.k12.ny.us, our District Social Workers and Backpack Program Coordinators. Parents and guardians can also reach out to the social worker at their child’s school to learn more about the program.
