School joins fight to end food insecurity
Last week, students at Forsyth Country Day School (FCDS) joined the fight to end food insecurity among children in our community, when seventh-graders packed more than 3,000 meals for 600 children in need.
Forsyth County Day School is the first school to have an entire club devoted to aiding food insecurity through the Forsyth Backpack Program. The program, which is entirely led and organized by students has been raising awareness about food insecurity since 2015.
The program was made possible by a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation’s Youth Grant makers Association and funds raised from an annual 5K and Fun Run held at FCDS.
President and founder of the Forsyth Backpack Program, and the FCDS Forsyth Backpack Club, Yasmin Horner said, “The purpose of this event is not only to provide food, but to also raise awareness about local food issues which too often go unnoticed.”
Horner who is currently a junior at FCDS said the program has grown tremendously over the years thanks to the support of the FCDS Family and the surrounding community.
“It’s crazy how quickly things grow once people are aware,” Horner continued. “…Everyone wants to get involved and help out. It’s great to have such a supportive community.”
On the day of the event students took turns packing boxes of non-perishable food items, while others wrote letters to go in the boxes, and learned about food disparities in our community and others across the country.
When discussing the impact of the program Sahara Sayess, vice president of the Forsyth Backpack Club said it makes her feel good to know she is making a difference.
“Food insecurity isn’t like an isolated issue it impacts so many other things so just by helping with something that seems like a small issues we’re actually helping kids get better educations and just be more successful in life,” Sayess said. “It feels really great to have that big of an impact.”
Along with providing boxes of food for families in need, on Friday, April 13 students also volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest N.C. This year’s annual Forsyth Backpack Club 5K and Fun Run is scheduled for Sept. 22.
For more information about the FCDS Forsyth Backpack Club or the Forsyth Backpack Program contact Beth Mack by email at bethmack@fcds.org.
