Starfish Backpacks Deliver Nourishment and Equity to SD73 Families

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Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Starfish Backpacks program provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to children who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend. Through a collaborative effort between the Kamloops Food Bank, SD73, local businesses, and volunteers, 275 backpacks filled with food are delivered weekly to students across the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

This Starfish Backpacks initiative not only supports students’ physical well-being but also strengthens their ability to learn and thrive, reflecting SD73’s key values of Equity and Well-Being from the District Strategic Plan.

Every Friday, the Kamloops Food Bank provides school-aged children with a bag of groceries to take home, containing a selection of food items for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks to enjoy during the weekend.

The program initially started with 10 backpacks and has steadily grown year after year. Last year, more than 9,000 Starfish Backpacks were provided to SD73 students. This year, the program was extended its support to 29 schools (9 secondary, 20 elementary), with a total of 275 Starfish Backpacks being distributed every week—resulting in approximately 4,400 packs being delivered so far since September.

Food insecurity is not something that affects families only during the holidays. This partnership with the Kamloops Food Bank has been an invaluable program that supports vulnerable students and their families throughout the school year, even while schools are closed.

Throughout the school year, groups of local volunteers visit the Kamloops Food Bank to prepare Starfish deliveries. On Friday, December 12, District staff and principals visited the Kamloops Food Bank to package and deliver that week's Starfish packs.

Thank you to the Kamloops Food Bank and all the dedicated volunteers whose efforts ensure that students across the Kamloops-Thompson School District have the nourishment they need to succeed.