Community Action Program Region Vii Inc

Nutrition, emergency and other assistance:nutrition and emergency services programs include the emergency food pantry program, the backpacks for kids program, supportive services for veteran families (ssvf) program, and the community services block grant (csbg) program. The community action food pantry provides food baskets to families who are in need and income qualified. Food baskets are generally filled to last approximately 4-7 days, depending on funding and donations received. Backpacks for kids was developed to address the need for food for children identified as being homeless. Backpacks are filled with "kid-friendly" foods such as cereal, granola/yogurt bars, fruit cups, applesauce, pudding, canned dinners, peanut butter, jelly and bread. Backpacks are delivered to the schools on friday or the last day of each school week. The school distributes them to children in need and the children return the backpacks to the school the following week to be refilled. The ssvf program provides support services for veterans and veteran families by offering financial assistance to search for housing, assistance with initial rental costs, or paying for certain bills related to back rent or utilities. The csbg program provides financial counseling and case management.