by Sue Grafstrom
Roseau Area Food
Shelf Board Member

For the past eight years, the Roseau Backpack Program has been a crucial support system for students at Roseau Elementary School. This program assists 125 elementary students by providing them with nutritious food every Friday, ensuring they have enough to eat over the weekend when school meals are unavailable.

The Roseau Area Food Shelf funds this vital initiative, with the cost of each backpack of food amounting to $3.77 per student. Annually, the program’s expenses exceed $16,000, highlighting the significant financial commitment required to sustain it.

Volunteers play an essential role in the program’s success. Jen Cole, a social worker at Roseau High School, coordinates 10-12 community volunteers and approximately 20 students for the monthly packing day. We couldn’t do this without our volunteers, she said. “Last year, Polaris Industries committed about 10 adult volunteers to help assemble bags each month and has committed to assisting again this year.” She emphasized the collaborative effort involved, stating, “It’s a great collaboration of volunteer hours and financial assistance between community organizations and individuals.

Each month, after SuperOne delivers food on a pallet, it takes about two hours to pack it into 500 individual bags. These bags are then placed in reusable totes purchased through a grant from the Roseau Electric Program’s Operation Round Up. Once packed, Roseau National Honor Society students deliver the bags to designated lockers each week.

Teresa McDonnell, chair of the Roseau Area Food Shelf Board, noted the growing demand for the program. “Despite our best efforts to ensure access to food support through our food shelf, the demand for this program continues to grow, and we are finding it increasingly challenging to meet the financial requirements,” she said.

The Roseau Area Food Shelf is seeking additional financial support to continue providing this vital service to the community’s most vulnerable members. Donations can be mailed to Roseau Area Food Shelf, P.O. Box 142, Roseau, MN 56751.