VCS Social Services Newsletter

Information for Families

School social workers will be in touch with families who signed up for the Holiday Assistance Program to arrange a time to pick up gifts between the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. If you did not yet register for the Holiday Assistance Program this year, but are in need of support, we invite you to reach out to your school social worker. We will then work hard to put you in touch with resources to meet your needs.

Information for Donors

If you have offered to sponsor a child or children through the Holiday Assistance Program, you will receive more detailed information with your shopping list and drop off location via email shortly. If you would still like to be a donor for the Holiday Assistance Program, please click here to sign up. We currently have approximately 30 students who still need a donor.

Thank you to our generous community!

We anticipate that we will be able to connect nearly 550 students and their families to holiday assistance resources thanks to the overwhelming support & generosity of the Valparaiso community. Thank you!

About Backpacks and Snacks

During the 2022-2023 school year, the VCS Social Services Team is once again providing weekend meal kits for children experiencing food insecurity. The Backpacks and Snacks Weekend Food Program is a response to the 64 hours between Friday evenings and Monday mornings when food may not be accessible for some families. Through this program, children ages 18 and under are provided with student-friendly, easily prepared breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to sustain them through each weekend. This program is made possible thanks to many generous community donors! In 2022-2023, we are already serving approximately 240 children.

Information for Families

If you would like to be included in our weekend meal distributions, and are not yet enrolled, please open the pdf below for information and the sign up link.

If you are already enrolled in Backpacks and Snacks, and you are in need of a family food kit for the upcoming winter break, please be on the lookout for a sign up coming from your school social worker the week after Thanksgiving.

Information for Donors

If you would like to support the Backpacks and Snacks program, here are some possibilities.

• Sponsor a student for a weekend (~$6), a month (~$24), a semester (~$108), or a school year (~$216)

• Sponsor a week of our program for families (~$1400)

• Sponsor a month of our program for families (~$5600)

Monetary donations can be made via check payable to "Valparaiso Community Schools" with “Backpacks and Snacks” in the memo line.

Deliver or mail checks to:

Valparaiso Community Schools

Attn. Backpacks and Snacks

3801 N. Campbell St.

Valparaiso, IN 46385

If you should require additional food or other resources, you can contact the following agencies:

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana

https://foodbanknwi.org/get-help/

Salvation Army

799 Capitol Rd

Valparaiso, IN 46385

(219) 762-9191

Open T,W,R 1PM-3PM

Porter Co. ID needed, can utilize 1x/month

Hilltop Food Pantry

606 Union St

Valparaiso, IN 46383

(219) 477-4222

Open M 3PM-6PM and R 9AM-1:30PM

Porter Co ID needed, can utilize 1x/month

*Food Baskets around the holidays

https://www.facebook.com/HilltopHouseIN/

Immanuel Lutheran Church

1700 Monticello Park

Valparaiso, IN 46383

(219) 462-8207

Open T and R 1PM-3PM

Proof of address Valpo, not open to South Haven area

Christian Food Pantry at First United Methodist Church (FUMC)

(219) 462-5615

Ashbury Center

103 Franklin St

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Open Mon and Wed 10AM-12PM, Can use 2x/monthly, must be 2 weeks apart

Valpo ID/Proof of Residency needed

*Offers ingredients for holiday dinners during the season

United Way

A large selection of resources available in many different categories

Call 211 or visit https://resourceroundup.com/

Red Ribbon Week was October 24-28. This year's national theme was "Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free." The theme was a call to action to speak out in support of healthy choices. It served as a reminder that we can all shape our communities through positivity, bravery, and strength. It also represented that by staying drug free, you are sending a message to yourself and others about how much you value yourself, your health, your community, and your future. Some Red Ribbon activities were likely shared with you, but this effort is ongoing through our DARE education and other initiatives.

To see the dates of the upcoming Thanksgiving and Winter breaks, click the button below.