Across the Copper Country Intermediate School District 31 backpacks deliver groceries to students each week. The program even sends students home with extra food during holiday breaks in the academic year. Vice president and co-founder melissa maki says the program provides over 100,000 meals each year. And after recently placing an 18,000-pound order from Feeding America, she’s concerned about how a recent pause to snap benefits could impact students in the copper country.
Any money that comes in, you know, through giving Tuesday or any point up until that is going to cover is going to be covering our needs today. This is not going to be, set some aside for the future kind of thing, maybe a little bit. But the majority of it, like I said, 18000 pounds worth of food. And then we have to supplement that with things that aren’t available through Feeding America. And we get those from local grocers. This is a critical time. – Melissa Maki, Vice President, 31 Backpacks
Organizations such as 31 Backpacks rely on generous donations and grant programs to fund the majority of their work. Maki says Giving Tuesday has become the organizations largest annual fundraiser. Other food assistance organizations also take part in Giving Tuesday, 2025. Including From The Ground, Meals On Wheels, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Pewabic Street Community Garden, and The Copper Country Angel Mission that operates a pantry.
