The Bridging A Gap (BAG) Weekend Feeding Program was recently recognized at the 2018 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community Recognition Awards for the significant impact its community partners and volunteers have made on 185 students and their families in Federal Way Public Schools.

BAG partners with 15 community organizations to ensure scholars receive a reliable source of nutrition over their weekends. The program was established in 2014 by Valerie Danforth through a grant from the St. Luke’s Foundation.

“Thank you so much for selecting the BAG Program for this honor,” Danforth said. “It is such a pleasure to partner with the FWPS on the BAG Program.”

BAG currently serves 14 schools, but the goal is to have the program in every school within the district that needs one. BAG’s efforts are in direct support of the district’s Strategic Plan Goal No. 2: Thriving, Confident, Responsible Individuals, according to a media release from FWPS.

“BAG represents how one individual such as Valerie Danforth can inspire the collective effort of a community to meet the needs of children so scholars come to school ready to learn and succeed,” FWPS Superintendent Tammy Campbell said in the release.

Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Tammy Campbell presents the Community Leadership Award to Valerie Danforth, founder of the Bridging a Gap (BAG) Program. Courtesy FWPS