The Champions for Children were honored at Snack in a Backpack’s annual fundraiser Tuesday evening, March 3, at Twisted Tomato in Blue Ridge.
This year’s Business Champion was awarded to Blue Ridge Food Lion; the Leadership and Safety Champions were the Fannin County School Resource Officers (SRO); and, the Community Non-Profit Champions were Fannin County Toys for Tots, which is led by the Marine Corps League Detachment #1438.
Throughout the evening, guests were treated to live music, a buffet, drinks, silent auctions and a raffle for two guitars, one with several celebrity autographs.
Rob Kaser led the program and told guests that “Snack in a Backpack is serving more children than ever before. More middle and high school students than ever are now depending on the program. More teachers are seeking snacks for their classrooms, and Snack is successfully meeting the greatest need the organization has ever faced thanks to everyone in this room.”
Snack in a Backpack is serving 650 children weekly across Fannin County and the Copper Basin. Each of these meal bags cost approximately $6 to $7, amounting to $20,000 a month.
According to local statistics, nearly 70% of school-age children in Fannin County qualify for the national Free and Reduced Lunch Program.
Board of Directors Mary Langford, Jeff O’Neill and Frank Fulford presented the awards.
Awarding Food Lion, Langford said across 10 years, they have provided the organization with grants, supplies and fresh produce on top of the national company-wide Food Lion Feeds program, which provides food staples locally.
Tristen Davenport of Food Lion accepted the award saying, “With food insecurity on the rise, we appreciate Snack in a Backpack and what the organization is doing for our community. We look forward to continuing to partner with this program.”
O’Neill presented Jim Brumbelow and Dale Greene of Toys for Tots with their award.
The local initiative has served for a decade and has served nearly 8,800 children and given over 47,000 gifts, O’Neill said.
“This is a testament to the generosity of Fannin County,” O’Niell said, “the value of those toys that we’ve given out is close to $700,000.”
Brumbelow thanked the county for their support along with Greene recognizing the volunteers.
In presenting the SROs their awards, Fulford recalled being a judge in the county’s jurisdiction when there were just three SROs, Darvin Couch, Anthony Walden and Sydney George.
“I soon learned that I could trust their judgement and evaluation and recommendation as to what I did with children who were brought before me because of violations of the law and school system,” Fulford said.
“Under the leadership of Sheriff Dane Kirby, he has expanded that of three School Resource Officers to seven School Resource Officers.”
Fulford continued saying that local children “are subjected to the same temptations and opportunities to get off track as the children in any other county in this state,” but believes “we have probably the best behaved children in any school system in the state of Georgia. This is due in large part to these gentlemen standing here.”
Fulford commended the SROs for their service and mentorship to the children.
Speaking for the SROs, Kirby said, “We don’t look for recognition for things like this. This is these guys’ jobs. It does come from the heart.”
He went on to commend the organization and its supporters for their efforts.
Anyone wishing to make a donation may send a check to Snack in a Backpack P.O. Box 2123, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513 or visit snackinabackpack.org.
All donations are tax deductible.
Executive Director Debby Beck can be contacted at 706-851-8174 or backpackfannin@gmail.com.