Distributing/Collecting Packs | Kidpacksforamerica

Distributing and Collecting Packs

Who Should Receive a Kid Pack?

Subtlety is the name of the game here; nobody in the school should know which kids are taking Kid Packs home, just like nobody should know which students are registered for free or reduced lunches. To sign kids up, send an informational letter explaining Kid Packs home with all students, and have parents simply call the school to sign their students up. Kids can also sign themselves up with a homeroom teacher or guidance counselor; teachers and counselors could forward names to the faculty or staff member spearheading the problem.

Distributing the Kid Packs

Schools distribute Kid Packs in several different ways. At my school (a high school,) students excuse themselves to go to the guidance office shortly before dismissal on Friday afternoon. Other schools simply line backpacks up in a hallway, and have kids grab them on their way out to catch the bus. DO NOT call students over the intercom or deliver the Kid Packs personally to students in their classes or homerooms; this could be seen as a violation of privacy.

Older students can remind themselves to pick up their Kid Pack before dismissal on Fridays, but teachers of younger students may have to quietly remind students to go to a certain area of the school at the appointed time. Whatever your school decides to do, make sure the Kid Packs are distributed on Friday afternoons; remember, this is the students' food supply for the weekend.

Collecting Empty Packs

In an ideal setting, students would need to bring the empty packs back to school to collect their next Kid Pack. On Monday morning, have a staff member in an appointed area (ideally, a classroom or conference room in a quiet area of the school!) to collect empty bags or backpacks. Names could then be checked off of a list.

Sometimes, however, it may become difficult for students to remember to bring their empty pack back to school. In this case, a parent may have to be called as a reminder, or an inexpensive alternative to a backpack should be used to hold food, so that recollecting the packs is not an issue.