Backpack Buddies Fundraiser

Fight child hunger at Edina house during the Parade of Homes tour:

The Junior League of Minneapolis partners with Schrader & Companies for donations

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 1, 2011)  -- The Junior League of Minneapolis (JLM) is partnering with Schrader & Companies to collect monetary donations during the 2011 Parade of Homes tour.  Money received will go to fight child hunger through the JLM’s Backpack Buddies program.

“Our Backpack Buddies team is extremely appreciative of all of the effort put forth in creating awareness of our program,” said Sarah Jackson, chair of the Backpack Buddies committee. “It’s partnerships like this that enable us to continue to grow and serve additional children in need.”

The Backpack Buddies program provides an estimated 300 first through third graders with food during the 2011-12 school year.  Every week during the school year since 2009, Junior League volunteers have met to fill the five to seven pound backpacks and deliver the food to Andersen Open Elementary in Minneapolis. Each backpack contains two breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners and three snacks, which is enough food to feed the student and often much of his or her family.  The Backpack Buddies program is one of several Junior League of Minneapolis projects where volunteers work to make the community a healthier, more vital place to live.

Schrader & Companies will encourage donations when Parade of Homes visitors stop by their featured home at 5917 Bernard Place in Edina. The Parade of Homes runs from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays from September 10 through October 2. There is no charge to enter the home. Any monetary donations will support the expansion of the Backpack Buddies Program and will assist in purchasing food for holiday meals.   

“We’re excited to be able to have a forum to introduce people to the Junior League of Minneapolis’ Backpack Buddies program,” said Paul Hughes, vice president of business development for Schrader & Companies. “We can utilize the Parade of Homes tour to encourage people to come support this great cause while viewing a beautiful home too. “

The JLM is a nonprofit organization made up of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  For more information on the Backpack Buddies program, the JLM or the event please visit the JLM website at http://www.jlminneapolis.org.