For the past 10 years, over 900 Cornwall Central School District students have benefited from the Backpacks for Food program, which aims to fight food insecurity by sending children home with a backpack full of food each week.

On September 28, to celebrate Hunger Action Month, co-founder Sally Mattausch was honored during a gathering at Cornwall Presbyterian Church.

“We’re very grateful for BFF for addressing the needs of our students,” Superintendent Terry Dade said. “It addresses food insecurity in our district that can often be overlooked given the overall economic status can be very middle class.”

The program began in 2014 and the first day of packing took place on October 3. Mattaush explained former pastor Patricia Callahan challenged the church members to not only take care of those who attended the church, but to move outside and find ways to help other members of the community as well. At the same time, co-founder Margaret Vatter was on a similar mission from St. John’s Episcopal Church. In speaking with the school district’s superintendent, it was learned there was a need for food in the community.

Since then, a group of about 100 volunteers has helped organize fundraisers, purchase food, as well as sort and pack the nutritious items.

During the recent gathering, Mattausch shared two stories which helped bring the volunteer group’s efforts full circle. During the Fall Festival, she was manning the BFF booth with members of the high school’s National Honor Society. Halfway through her two-hour shift, one of the young ladies points to a photo on a quilt and exclaims she was the little girl hiding behind a collection of food gathered during one of the group’s first fundraisers. She was six or seven at the time and is now a senior.

Five minutes later, another student approached Mattausch and said she was one of the children who received a backpack when she was in second grade. She recalled walking to her grandmother’s house every Friday, opening the bag, and putting the food on the table to see what she had.

“It’s funny how things revolve,” Mattausch said. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”

In honor of the occasion, the co-founder was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from Deputy Supervisor Wynn Gold on behalf of the Town Council. Mayor James Gagliano read a proclamation stating, “Program volunteers connected to the school district have ensured elementary school teachers have been provided nutritious snacks for young learners during ‘snack time.’ Local high school students have learned benefits of community service via guidance in fundraising efforts and food-gathering drives.”

Mattausch said she sees the program continuing for another decade, maybe longer. The volunteers have recently started discussing ways to expand.

Those interested in volunteering can e-mail BFF@aol.com or visit Cornwallbff.org.