Anything birdhouse is theme of Backpack program fundraiser

The annual fundraiser for the Backpack Program with the theme “Cheep Houses for Sale” is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at the Thermopolis Middle School from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will be in conjunction with the Beta Sigma Phi Holiday Affair / Craft Show in the gymnasium. 

Event director Judy Carswell said, “This year is anything birdhouse to follow the theme of “Cheep Houses for Sale.” They are looking for anything birdhouse related, such as chairs with paintings of birdhouses, earrings, necklaces, anything. Carswell said she is especially looking for a Christmas tree with a birdhouse theme. Carswell added, “And of course, we will accept other items for our auction also… We are having a silent auction to help raise money for our local backpack program, which is providing food to our kids on the weekends.”

The Backpack Program started in 2014 and Carswell reported that they were providing food for 40 students last year. However, at the start of school this year, they provided food for 100 students. But, this next month that number jumped up to 144 students in need of food. Carswell said, “The cost of food has gone up. Our numbers have gone up. So the amount of food that I ordered this month was almost $3,000 worth of food. We’re going to be using a lot of money in ten months, so we gotta make some money.”

Carswell described how a student can qualify for the program and said, “For the backpack program, you have to qualify for free or reduced lunches through the school district. The free and reduced lunch program or some faculty members have to deem that it is necessary. A person that works in the school district can suggest that this child needs food.”

Carswell said, “When I first started finding out about feeding kids on the weekend, there are so many kids in our school district that come to school that hasn’t eaten over the weekend. They come to school on Monday morning and need food. So they go to the lunchroom and ask for food… Their parents are trying to pay their bills. They can’t afford to buy food. So these kids can’t learn. You go to school, you’re hungry. You can’t concentrate on trying to learn math because all you want to think about is eating.”