Compass Academy students outline 'Cotan's Totes of Hope' backpack program to school board
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Summary
Students and staff from Compass Academy told the Goshen County School District #1 board how their student-run ‘‘Cotan's Totes of Hope’’ program packs 356 weekend backpacks weekly, describes funding sources and community partners, and trains students in packing, quality control and delivery.
Cheryl Trimble, educator at Compass Academy, told the Goshen County School District #1 Board of Trustees that students run a weekend backpack program called Cotan's Totes of Hope that supports families facing food insecurity. Trimble said the program is student-led, not district-funded, and that it received grants and community donations to operate.
"The students own this service project and they are invested in it," Trimble said, describing a grant obtained through the Wyoming Food Bank that paid for a commercial refrigerator to increase the nutritional quality of items packed in the backpacks. She said the program receives 40 cases of beef sticks each semester through a partnership with Torrington Livestock and processing by 307 Meat Company in Laramie.
Students who participated described specific roles in the operation: one student identified as the organizer who coordinates shopping and deliveries, another described quality-control checks, and others explained the assembly-line packing process. Student presenters said they currently pack 356 backpacks each week, serving about 20% of the district's student population, and that the program now also supplies Torrington Learning Center, Lincoln Infant Toddler Center and Valley Christian School.
Trimble and a volunteer organizer, Monica Kramer, listed recent support: a $10,000 grant from the Community Healthcare Foundation, $5,000 from the Rotary Club, donations from Saint Joseph's Children's Homes, All Saints Episcopal Church, Pinnacle Bank and many private individuals, plus local food drives run by community partners. Kramer said local grocery stores collect donations and Main Street Market collects funds that are used to buy fresh products for the backpacks.
Students invited trustees to visit the storage area and described logistics: monthly food bank deliveries, use of dollies to move pallets, double-bagging procedures for durability, and an assembly-line process on Wednesday mornings to prepare deliveries. Board members praised the presentation and thanked the students for their work.
The board moved on to committee reports after the presentation.