THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iron Mountain volunteers to deliver bags of food to North Elementary and Woodland Elementary. The Bread of Life Backpacks for Kids program provides students nutritional meals to stay healthy over the weekend while away from school. From left, church office manager and volunteer Bill Haigh and Sandy and Ted Mendini pack bags for the upcoming weeks. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — For more than a decade, First Evangelical Lutheran Church volunteers have been committed to making sure elementary-age kids in need don’t go hungry while away from school.

The Bread of Life Backpacks for Kids contains six meals that help students stay healthy over the weekend. But a financial crisis with the non-profit organization may mean shutting down the longtime program.

The Iron Mountain church instituted the program 14 years ago after hearing about “31 Backpacks” in Houghton. “Church members had learned from local school officials that they also had children not being able to focus because they were too hungry — we thought we had to do something,” program volunteer Sandy Mendini said.

Bill Haigh, church office manager and one of program’s founders, said once they received church board approval, they immediately got busy establishing the backpack program at North Elementary in Iron Mountain and Woodland Elementary in Kingsford.

“We were the first ones in the local area to start this type of program,” said program volunteer Ted Mendini, who has also been with the program since the beginning.

Each week, brown paper bags are filled with two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners, along with snacks. They also include two milks, two juices and occasionally shelf-stable yogurt.

They now pack a total of 56 bags a week, down two from the start of the school year.

“The count fluctuates slightly, but it’s been pretty steady so far this school year,” Sandy Mendini said.

Since the start of the program, the highest number of needed bags has been 64, Haigh noted.

Today, the average cost is about $10 per bag, which is $560 a week.

“When we started the average cost was maybe $4 a bag,” Ted Mendini said. “We are doing the same amount, but the price of items have gone way up.”

They try to keep items as nutritious as possible on their limited budget.

Volunteers also rotate items each week so students get a variety.

Haigh, who is also in charge of the program’s ordering and finances, said they primarily purchase through Feeding America, but look for deals through Amazon, Sam’s Club and Walmart. “We search out the best prices for the size,” he said.

The three are now faced with the fact if they do not receive financial help from the community, they will not be able to continue the program in the next school year.

“We have an order coming in that we hope makes us through the end of this year,” Haigh said. “Our last order from Feeding America was over $2,000 — that amount wears on your budget pretty quick.”

Ted Mendini added, “We try to cut corners where we can, but we can only cut so many corners.”

He explained the original plan was to run the program as a community organization. “It’s been very difficult to do that, however,” he said.

“We are pretty much up against the wall right now,” Haigh said.

“It breaks my heart to think what is going to happen to these kids when our funding is out,” Sandy Mendini said.

The Bread of Life Backpacks for Kids program funds have come from the church, congregation members, as well as a few private donations and small grants. They acknowledge United Way and First Bank for their support over the years.

Organizers also said many local residents are unaware of the program and the impact it has on the children.

Ted Mendini plans to start “pounding the pavement” in the new year. He will begin to reach out personally to all the local businesses and organization. He is also willing to talk at club and organization functions.

“This is a fantastic program for the kids that need it,” he said. “When you hear from a teacher that it makes that much of a difference with a child, it makes you feel good.”

“They are so much more alert and can pay attention,” Haigh said. “There is a lot of advantages; it’s not just eating, it’s getting an education.”

“It’s very heartwarming,” Sandy Mendini added.

Organizers will accept food donations, but anything purchased for the program needs to be appropriate individual sizes for distribution.

School administrators and social workers determine which kids receive the assistance. At the beginning of each school year, request letters are sent home to families and as they are returned, the school notifies the church.

Ted Mendini, who personally delivers the bags each Friday, stressed that the program is run very discretely. “The church receives no names, just number of bags — we have zero contact with students,” he said.

Any family interested in receiving a bag for a child can contact the school offices.

In addition to financial assistance, they need volunteers. It takes the three-member team about an average of two to three hours each week just to pack the bags. “This doesn’t include unloading the food and organizing the pantry,” Haigh said.

“It’s a good thing we are retired,” Ted Mendini added.

It would be perfect for high school students looking to put in volunteer hours, they noted.

The church has also done other school programs, including “Seats and Feets” — donated underwear and socks for the little kids — and also purchasing school supplies. “That went over big,” Ted Mendini said. “The schools were so appreciated for the extra supplies.”

Any donation or assistance is appreciated. Checks can be made to First Lutheran Church, with a note for the “Backpack Program,” and dropped off or mailed to 1210 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Haigh at the church office at 906-774-0133.