Kids in Nampa, Vallivue districts benefit from Feed the Children Donation

Today, representatives of Feed the Children, a nonprofit relief organization, 960 backpacks full of books and school supplies to help children in need in the Treasure Valley.

Karen Seay, Homeless Education Coordinator at the State Department of Education, and about 40 volunteers were on hand at the Nampa School District Warehouse this morning to help unload the backpacks, which will specifically help students in the Nampa and Vallivue school districts who have been identified as homeless in the Nampa and Vallivue school districts.

Karen Seay of State Department of Education with representative of Feed the Children, unloading donations to kids in the Nampa and Vallivue School Districts.

Now, the Feed the Children truck is continuing on to make another donation to children in Montana. 

The population of homeless children in Idaho has grown in recent years during this tough economic time. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, students are identified as homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

The Nampa School District has seen an increase in children and youth identified as homeless, from 149 in the 2008-2009 school year to 757 students in 2009-2010.

The number of homeless students in the Vallivue district has increased as well, from 39 students in 2008-2009 to 145 last school year. 

We at the State Department of Education are grateful to Feed the Children organization for its generous donation.  We also extend a huge thanks to Peggy Miller, homeless education liaison for the Nampa School District, who helped make this event happen.

~ Melissa M.