TROY, N.Y., Jan. 8, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fidelis Care and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York are pleased to announce the addition of Carroll Hill elementary school in Troy to the Food Bank's BackPack Program. Carroll Hill's BackPack program will serve 15 students each Friday afternoon, providing them with 6 meals to eat throughout the weekend. This week, each bag will contain a box of cereal, 2 hearty granola bars, canned chicken, pasta alfredo, pasta Faggioli soup, a loaf of fresh bread, a gift card for a gallon of milk, 2 100% juice boxes, fresh apples, canned tomatoes and peanut brittle.
The BackPack program is designed to provide at-risk children with bags of food over the weekend. The program provides bags filled with food that is child-friendly, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare. Bags are discreetly distributed to participating children on Friday afternoons. The BackPack program has grown tremendously in past years, now serving more than 3,000 children in 115 schools across 18 counties.
Carroll Hill's participation is the first BackPack program in Troy Enlarged City School District. Fidelis Care is sponsoring the full cost of the program for the first year of operation. In addition to providing reliable weekend nutrition, the BackPack program has been shown to help maintain academic performance, increase attendance and reduce disciplinary actions in participating students.
"We are thrilled to bring the first BackPack Program to Troy to help serve children in a way that benefits so many aspects of their lives," said Scott Averill, Vice President of Marketing for Fidelis Care. "We recognize how crucial these programs are and the remarkable effort of the Regional Food Bank to address these difficult issues of hunger in the area."
About Fidelis Care:
As the New York State Catholic Health Plan, Fidelis Care offers quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life, including products available through NY State of Health: The Official Health Plan Marketplace. With over 1.4 million members Statewide, Fidelis Care was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.
Follow us on Twitter at @fideliscare and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare.
About the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
The Regional Food Bank has been helping to feed the poor and hungry in our communities since 1982. It is the only organization of its kind in northeastern New York. The Food Bank collects large donations of food from the food industry and distributes it to charitable agencies serving hungry and disadvantaged people in 23 counties.