TUFF Bags program aims to fill the meal gap for area school kids

Tuscarawas United-Feeding our Future Bags, otherwise known as TUFF Bags, has one mission: to end childhood food insecurity in Tuscarawas County. The weekend backpack program provides food to approximately 1,900 pre-K through 12-grade students in six local school districts, at Buckeye Career Center and at Quaker Digital Academy.

The program was originally tied into the national Blessings in a Backpack program and administered by the county health department. Since then it has become a big enough program to require its own warehouse, which was purchased by an anonymous donor and is located at 1060 Cookson Ave. SE in New Philadelphia.

Lisa Walker, director of TUFF Bags, said she and her assistant, Angie Brooks, deliver to 32 buildings every week. But without the help of a host of volunteers to stuff the bags, the program couldn’t happen.

According to Walker, the local need is not only very real, but also has been on the rise. She spoke about food deserts in Tuscarawas County, what they are and what they signify when it comes to rural families having access to nutritional food.

“A food desert is an area where there is a human population without access to food or a grocery supply,” said Walker. “We have a lot of those in Tuscarawas County, because it's a very rural county, and it's very geographically spread out. There are a lot of areas where people don't have a grocery store within five 10, sometimes 20 miles.”

For students in those areas, TUFF Bags can be a virtual oasis, providing weekend meals they may not otherwise enjoy.

Comfort food

According to Walker, most of the students served by TUFF Bags count on getting free breakfast and lunch every weekday during the school year. Come the weekend though, meals aren’t always so reliable.

“When they get a backpack at the end of the day Friday, they know they have food for the weekend,” said Walker. 

Walker said each student receives two entree items, two breakfast items, two snacks and shelf stable drinks.

“You can have the best facilities, the most amazing teachers and top class curriculum, but if kids are hungry from not eating the night before, it’s not going to stick,” said Walker.

TUFF Bags is currently being administered by the New Philadelphia First Church of the Nazarene, which Walker said is enabling the group to partner with more churches.

“It has been kind of a natural progression to partner with more churches who see that this is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus, you know, feeding children.”

No summer vacation

TUFF Bags doesn’t rest over the summer. Instead, it shifts into overdrive, expanding deliveries to even more locations. In the summer 2024, the Summer Meal Program delivered more than 3,600 bags to local children over the course of nine weeks at 11 distribution sites.

“We just try to be a steady presence so meals are one less things kids have to worry about,” said Walker.

Walker also noted that, with the rising cost of so many necessities putting the squeeze on family budgets, many people find themselves having to make difficult choices.

“Do I keep the lights on this month, or do I make the car payment? Do I pay rent or pay for my meds? And, unfortunately food is often one of the last priorities.”

For more information on TUFF Bags call 330-401-3283 or visit them on Facebook where a link can be found for volunteering or sending monetary donations.

Financial donations also may also be mailed to the United Way of Tuscarawas County at 1458 Fifth St. NW, New Philadelphia or made online at www.tuscunitedway.org.