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With school heading back in just a few weeks, a program that helps feed kids and families in need in Aldergrove is also getting ready to resume its fall operations.

The Starfish Program鈥檚 volunteers provide backpacks full of nutritious food to get families through the weekends, benefiting kids at three Aldergrove Elementary schools and, as of September, Betty Gilbert Middle, said Charlie Fox, the program鈥檚 coordinator.

鈥淲e鈥檝e given out over 14,000 backpacks in the last six and a half years,鈥� Fox said.

Aldergrove Rotary Club organizes and supports the program.

This was the first summer that the program partnered with Meals on Wheels during July and August. In the past, the program has given out gift cards for grocery stores, but this year packing and picking up of backpacks continued.

鈥淔rom an operations point of view, it has gone well,鈥� Fox said.

Meals on Wheels ran a great operation, and even hired the same shopper who selected the foods for the backpacks during the school year, ensuring continuity in the kinds of foods clients could expect.

They packed 71 Starfish backpacks a week, Fox said.

The only issue was a slight decrease in the number being picked up, as family鈥檚 summer plans disrupted their pick ups from time to time.

Now that the program is coming back, students heading into Betty Gilbert Middle鈥檚 Grade 6 who are on the program will continue to be accommodated, Fox said.

He also expects the schools will be referring more families to the program.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 suspect our backpack numbers will decrease,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seen an increase in need.鈥�

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READ ALSO: Starfish program packing backpacks for Aldergrove families in need

The other big change this year is on the fundraising side.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had a couple of good fundraisers over the summer,鈥� Fox said.

There was a lemonade stand at the Aldergrove Fair dedicated to donations to Starfish that raised $1,000, and a 50/50 draw at the last Fraser Valley Bandits basketball game brought in about $1,700.

This fall, the Pasta Party fundraiser will be back for the first time since the pandemic. Supported by Bonetti Meats, it will be held this year on Oct. 29 at the St. Dunstan鈥檚 Anglican church hall.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of our main fundraisers,鈥� said Fox, and they鈥檙e glad to be able to hold it again.

In addition, Rotary clubs in 91原创 are supporting the program through their 50/50 mega draw, which had more than $220,000 as a jackpot. The draw was set for Aug. 19, after Advance Times deadlines.

The program is ready for an increase in demand if it comes with volunteers, as well. The Aldergrove Community Secondary School (ACSS) hairdressing students are helping out again this year, and at present there鈥檚 plenty of hands to help with that end of things, Fox said.