Students, scouts help boost WLI’s backpack program
Published 10:15 am Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Girl Scouts Elizabeth Clennon, Linnea Ljosenvoor and Sophia Rippentrop donated cookies. Photo provided
The Women’s Leadership Initiative recently received three donations from area community members to support the weekend food backpack program.
As part of a class assignment, Layne Vaupel solicited donations and spread the word about the WLI backpack program. His efforts provided over 60 meals to area students.
“I learned about the program from my Aunt Annemarie. I wanted to do something that would help kids right away,” Vaupel said in a press release.
Several Groups donated to the Women’s Leadership Initiatives recent backpack program. AHS Youth Leadership’s Madi Klein and Chloe Thorpe present a check to Holly Johnson, Jill Hart. Photo provided
Members of Daisy Girl Scout Troop No. 44736 donated 45 boxes of extra girl scout cookies. Troop leaders Eric Ljosenvoor and Andrea Clennon said they had nothing to do with the idea. The girls came to them and asked to donate any extra cookies to the backpack program. Sophia and Sadie Rippentrop, Linnea Ljosenvoor and Elizabeth Clennon were on hand to deliver the donation.
Austin High School’s Youth Leadership group donated proceeds from the Mr. Austin contest to the program as well. Their donation will help the WLI to purchase more than 300 meals this fall for students who often do not have enough food over the weekend.
The weekend food backpack programs help families struggling to make ends meet each month by providing food for all children in the family. During the 2013/2014 school year the WLI provided nearly 13,000 meals for 180 children.
Layne Vaupel helped spread the word about the backpack program and brought in more than 60 meals to area students. Photo provided
