By Kelsey Favret

news@heraldsun.com; 419-6645

DURHAM -- Having to choose between paying rent and buying food for their children is a reality for a growing number of people as the economy struggles to emerge from the recession. In Durham, a program developed through the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle -- BackPack Buddies -- is lending a hand to those families by offering backpacks and nutritious foods.

BackPack Buddies is a program that provides children living in poverty with enough food to last through the weekend, when school lunches are not an option. Forest View Elementary School and the John Avery Boys and Girls Club have adopted the program, helping about 100 children in Durham, according to Tonya Post, director of programs at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

The program at Forest View Elementary seeks out students to receive the backpacks of food. An on-site team of teachers, administrators and social workers report students who appear to be in need to BackPack Buddies' site coordinator, Ashley Altman. The program supported 22 students last year, and it plans to increase that to 24 students for the 2009-2010 school year. Once in the program, each child reports to Altman's office every Friday afternoon to pick up his or her bookbag containing six meals and two snacks. The children return their empty backpacks on Monday morning, and the cycle continues for the entire school year.

When asked if the program has been a success at Forest View, Altman responds, "Absolutely!" She said "they look forward to bringing home the backpacks." For most of these children, the only stable meals they have are at school, and the availability of food on weekends can be rare, Altman said. BackPack Buddies provides the children with healthy food that is either already made or simple for a young child to prepare.

Post lists specific foods that can be found in the backpacks: "tuna fish, fruit, vegetables, 100 percent juice, shelf-stable milk, granola bars, Easy Mac." The foods healthy yet still appealing for young children. Nutritionists are involved in the program to ensure the kids are receiving adequate foods.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle will be housing BackPack Buddies at its new Durham service center, which opened Wednesday at The Shops at Northgate off Guess Road. With the new facility, the program will be able to feed more children and expand to more schools in Durham. Anyone interested in contributing to the program can do so at the service center.