Last year, 118 Farmington Public Schools (FPS) children took home backpacks every other weekend that helped feed their families.

While the Bountiful Backpack program hasn't gotten underway this year, 386 families qualify to receive one. And that has school officials and the Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families looking for a way to cover the cost of distributing the bundles of non-perishable food items during the school year. 

The food is purchased from Busch's Fresh Food Market by Bonnies James, principal at Visions Unlimited, a post-secondary special education program for young adults ages 18-26 with developmental and physical disabilities. James said students gather foods, pack orders and track inventory as part of their classes. 

When the building that houses the program was reconfigured, James made sure there was dedicated space for backpack distribution activities. 

"It's important work that we do," she said. 

"I was thrilled when Visions became involved," Foundation director Barbara Yuhas said, "because it's another dimension to the program." 

A $20,000 contribution from an anonymous donor matched by other donors, Foundation trustee Edward Cleland said, covers the cost of 100 backpacks. 

"We are serving roughly 25 percent of the need," he added. "If we were to fully fund this, it would be $150,000 to $160,000 annually... Families are in serious need of that help."

Cleland said the backpack program will be a topic for discussion during the Foundation's Heart and Soul Winter Gala slated Feb. 11, 2012, 6 p.m., at Sellers Buick GMC in Farmington Hills. If last year's event is any indication, the program should receive strong support. In a matter of minutes, a $7,500 challenge donation was more than matched, giving the program a $15,100 boost. 

Foundation and school officials recognize the need can't be met with one-time contributions. On Tuesday, James, Yuhas, Cleland, Foundation trustee Robin Waldman, and FPS Supt. Susan Zurvalec (also a Foundation trustee) discussed ways to make the program self-supporting. 

In an email Tuesday, Yuhas said she and Cleland will lead a group that aims to "develop and implement fundraising programs and provide guidance", with representatives from the Foundation, schools, the business community and civic groups that have supported the program. One of the ideas: a "Backpack Dinner", featuring food items from the backpacks. 

"The kick-off will be at the 2012 Winter Gala," Yuhas wrote. "Our hope is that guests at that event will respond generously, then we'll take it to the broader community."

For more information about the Gala or to donate to the backpack program, contact Yuhas at 248-345-9090, write to info@ffhfoundation.org or visit ffhfoundation.org.