Volunteers Complete Backpack Snack Attack
Don’t panic. It’s not time to go back to school just yet. On July 13, 25 Ameriprise Financial employees packed backpacks full of food for hungry children this summer.
Many children served by Catholic Charities qualify for free or reduced-price meals at their schools, so when school’s out for summer, families must cover more meals at home. Catholic Charities received a grant from Hunger Solutions Minnesota to provide nutritious food to low-income families during the summer.
In two hours, the volunteers from Ameriprise’s Corporate Communications and Community Relations Department filled 400 sturdy black backpacks with milk, peanut butter and jelly,  canned soup and canned fruit. Each backpack also contained hygiene supplies and information about the Food Support program. Volunteers packed some bags with portions of rice and beans to be distributed later.
The volunteers used the event as a team-building activity, and they also had a great time helping meet the needs of children on summer break. With a friendly competitive spirit, the group worked quickly enough to finish all 400 backpacks, fill some standard food shelf bags and clean up.
“It was really wonderful to have an opportunity that was so tactical,“ said Ameriprise Director of Community Relations Mark Hiemenz. “You can see the food and you know it’s going to families with children who don’t have the opportunity to get free and reduced lunches over the summer from school.”
“This was a great team-building experience and very well organized,” he continued. “People understood why we were doing this. People really felt good about what they were doing. It was so positive.”
Learn more about Catholic Charities' food shelves.
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