Caroline Sanders spent her summer working to decrease food insecurity in children through a summer internship with Snack in a Backpack.
“I began on June first by running errands and fulfilling basic clerical duties for the program,” Sanders said. “I also was able to help on the packing line and distributing food bags to the dozens of food delivery volunteers.”
Sanders explained that the mission of Snack in a Backpack is to “decrease the burden of childhood hunger in Fannin County by providing food to insecure families for weekend and school vacation food assistance.”
“With the health crisis today, I saw first-hand how important the mission of Snack in a Backpack is,” Sanders said. “Our communities need help from people who are willing and able to do what they can.”
She enjoyed her volunteer experience and having the opportunity to serve others alongside the group of volunteers with Snack in a Backpack.
“I loved getting to serve the community with all of the awesome volunteers at SIAB,” she said. “It is an amazing thing to witness people coming together to serve one purpose. I am so glad I was able to do my part in this program. The director, Debby Beck, and the volunteers are wonderful, and I loved witnessing such an amazing program in action. As I go back to college this fall, I will remember the meaningful experiences at this program and the great people I met.”
Executive Director Debby Beck describes Sanders as a “wonderful summer intern,” and said the organization will miss her hard work as she returns to college.
“Young people gain valuable experience when serving as an intern with a non-profit organization,” Beck said. “A non-profit runs just like a small business, with a great mission and a lot of interaction with volunteers. Caroline was a big help to the Summer Meals program, which served over 25,000 meals in just two months. I would love to have more college interns working with the Snack program throughout the year.”
Sanders expressed her appreciation to the group stating, “Thank you to every person who has a part in this program, whether it be something small or something big, it means so much to the children receiving our help. I appreciate what Snack in a Backpack does for the community, and I am grateful for all of the experiences I was able to have this summer.”
Sanders, a sophomore at Anderson University in South Carolina, will return to school this fall as a nursing major.
Snack in a Backpack is always in need of donations to continue the fight against food insecurity. Those interested can donate online at https://snackinabackpack.org/donate or by mail to Snack in a Backpack, P.O. Box 2123, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513.
Those interested in volunteering their time can fill out a Snack Interest Letter at https://snackinabackpack.org/volunteer.