PAC Program members present Backpack Buddies Executive Director Lin Larson 834 packages of ramen they collected during their ramen drive.
Photo by Sarah Drinkwine.
The young adults in the Partners Across our Community program collected 834 packages of individual ramen between April 15 and May 14.
Although, the group would have loved to keep the ramen for themselves, the ramen drive was in support of Backpack Buddies.
“We want to thank everyone who donated and helped us collect as much as we did,” said PAC Program Coordinator Teresa Freitas.
The ramen will be distributed along with other non-perishable food to K-12 students in need who participate in Backpack Buddies.
The Backpack Buddies Program is a community-based volunteer organization which distributes a bag of non-perishable food items every Friday.
The food bags include seven meals and meets the USDA minimum daily requirement for school age children.
“Studies have shown the students who participate in the Backpack Buddies program experience improved academic performance, improved attendance, and a reduced number of behavior issues while at school,” said Backpack Buddies Executive Director Lin Larson.
Members of the PAC program said it felt good to be able to give back to the schools and programs that have helped them and it made them happy to show their support for their community.
Through the Douglas County School District and in partnership with the Department of Education, Training and Rehabilitation, the PAC Program is designed for young adults, with a qualifying disability, ages 18 to 22, to connect with the community for volunteer and employment opportunities.
Visit https://www.dcsd.net/student-life/pac for more information about the PAC Program and visit https://www.backpackbuddiesnv.org/ for more information about Backpack Buddies.
