Food4Kids Fundraiser tees off at Inn of the Mountain Gods July 15

Ruidoso Food 4 Kids Backpack Program announced that their 5th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser is July 15 at 1 p.m. at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.

The event is the programs’ yearly major fundraiser to help hungry children of Lincoln County.

Elizabeth and Frank Potter, of Ruidoso, started the organization eight years ago and have continued to increase the number of children they are able to reach out to through fundraisers, donations and volunteer efforts. The program provides help to children of Lincoln County in Ruidoso, Hondo, Capitan and Carrizozo in need of food.

Last year’s golf the tournament raised just over $25,000 with support from local businesses, community support, volunteers and through donations. The non-profit organization makes sure that 100 per cent of all money raised stays in the program, and often they spend their own out of pocket money when the need arises.

“Last year we had over 1,700 volunteer hours from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018,” Elizabeth Potter said. “We cannot thank the volunteers enough for all they do to help us and to help these children.”

The Food 4 Kids Program is affiliated with the Roadrunner Food Band, and Walmart donates Backpacks every year. Elizabeth Potter writes a grant proposal to the Southeast New Mexico Grant Program and receives help from the Hubbard Foundation each year. White Mountain Elementary School allows them to use their facilities free of charge.

“Superintendent Bickert, along with the School Board Members have been so supportive of our efforts. We are thankful to them,” Potter said.

The program has zero over-head and everything they receive, material items or monetary, goes back into the program. They have no expenditures therefore, they have been able to reach out helping more children each year.

Since the program began in 2010, they have provided over 81,000 backpacks and have raised $105,000 that went directly back into the program providing more food and items for the children.

“The generosity of the community here is amazing. We cannot thank each person enough that has ever helped us,” Potter said.

Providing children with a backpack filled with nutritious food to be taken home on weekends, school holidays, and summer break when school meals are not available, the Potters are grateful to all those who have helped either through volunteer hours, providing supplies and food, or their generous cash donations.

“Our goal is simply to reach every child we can helping them get food," Potter said. "Some parents are having a tough time making ends meet. It isn’t because they aren’t taking care of their children, it is because they need help every now and then. We are not here to judge anyone.”

This year they will provide more food in each pack as they are finding out, through teacher and parent surveys, the children are running out of food by Saturday. When the packs are sent out for the first time during the school year, a Health and Wellness magazine is provided to the parents with information on the resources that are available in Lincoln County.

“There are so many resources for food in this county," Potter said. "There is no reason that a child or family should have to go without food or ever feel hungry.”

Many of the children in the program rely on school breakfasts and lunches and are often the only meals for them each day during the school week. Every backpack contains 7-9 items that are healthy and kid friendly.

During the summer months the program provides assistant for the children, started by the Porters three years ago, supplementing meals. Food 4 kids delivered over 712 bags last summer over a 10-week period. During the school year, over 15,843 backpacks were distributed to children which was an increase of 8.73 percent above the previous year. The total amount of expenditures for the year was $18,431.

Children’s Dental clinic and Dr. Kenneth Childress donated oral hygiene products to the program. The Sierra Blanca Book Share Program provided books for the bags with the hope of encouraging children to read. 

The program further extends services to children and their families by providing shoes, clothing, gloves and coats. During the winter holiday seasons, 21 boxes of holiday meals were donated to families, including turkeys, ham, bags of rice, and beans. The number one donated item is Peanut Butter. “It is expensive and is a good source of protein for the children,” Potter said.

Backpack 4 kids is a voluntary program available to those who wish to participate. There is no intake questionnaire, and anyone who asks for help will receive it. Most children however, are referred to Elizabeth or Frank Potter by the child’s teacher. The program has been busy stuffing the packs for weeks already with the help of local volunteers. Potter is very encouraged to reach even more children during this summer. “We have more volunteers than our previous years. We are excited that are able to reach more children this year than we have over the previous years. I just know this is my plan for life,” Potter said.

The amount of food each child is sent home with depends on how many children are in the home under the age of 18. If the child is old enough to eat the food, it is sent home with their sibling. “I have found out that a child attending school may have brothers or sisters at home. There is no way the child’s teacher knows this, so we have a form the parents can fill out giving us the demographics on the individual students and the number of people that reside in the home,” Potter said.

Since the program began, statistics have provided the results of this program suggesting that there is an over-all improvement in concentration, students participation, their health, behavior, and a decrease in student absenteeism. When parents, or family members were asked about the over-all improvement in these students, they were in overall agreement that their children are performing much better during the school year and at home.

This year’s event will have over $12,000 in prizes donated by the Inn of the Mountain Gods that includes $10,000 cash, prizes for every hole, plus four special hole-in-one prizes of $1,000 and $2,500. Participating golfers will be treated to meals and door prizes. The entry fee is $125 per person and $250 for a hole sponsorship. Sponsors do not have to play in the tournament and a sign will be placed at the hole acknowledging their generous donation. Thus far, they have confirmed 16 teams of four golfers, but are looking to sign up a minimum of 32 teams to. This year there will be a buffet dinner for all the golfers. “We want to recognize them for coming out and helping raise money for the children of our community, for the program. Without them it would be much harder to succeed at this,” Elizabeth Potter said.  “Nothing happens unless you get donations. We need help and appreciate everyone that has ever helped us,” Frank Potter said. “Elizabeth really does a lot for the program and she keeps everything together. She is very organized and always knows what need to be done.”

This is the third year the fundraiser will be held at the Inn to raise money to help children of Lincoln County by the food 4 kids program. Tee time is at 1pm and events will continue throughout the day. Golfers can register early at Ruidosofood4kids.org, can pay entry fees the day of the tournament, or call Elizabeth at 575-937-4732 or Frank at 575-937-4989.