Grafton charity provides weekend food for 180 children

A charity in Grafton, Wisconsin, is ensuring that schoolchildren do not go hungry over the weekend. Family Sharing runs a program called Bags in Backpacks (BIBS) that provides food to more than 180 kids in Ozaukee County every Friday. The bags are filled with various fresh and non-perishable food items. They are designed to provide enough meals to last through the weekend. Todd Bugnacki, the food pantry director, helped start the program when he was the Superintendent for the Cedarburg School District. He wants to reduce food insecurity for students so they can focus on their studies instead of worrying about food. Each week, volunteer groups pack the bags in an assembly line. Brittany White, a volunteer from the group Rise 2020, shared that the program allows her family to give back. "The intent is that kids have enough to carry them through the weekend," she said. After packing, Don Symmonds drives the bags to 20 different schools in the area. He delivers to public and private schools based on their requests. Once at the schools, staff discreetly place the bags in the students' backpacks to ensure privacy. Family Sharing also runs a food pantry and a resale boutique, both open to the public. They encourage donations to support their efforts.