Children are the largest population afflicted by poverty. And the consequences of their exposure to the hardships of such a life resonate deeper than the mere need for food and shelter. For them, the support of their struggling parents is weakened by the financial strain and they risk losing their own hope for a better future in the day-to-day compromises they must make.

At the CAC we look to reinforce hope and provide children with opportunities and services that ease the pain they face in the flux of their family’s economic situation.

Operation Backpack

Operation Backpack is coordinated and funded by the Campaign for Children committee from the Northfield United Methodist Church. Households that met CAC certification requirements are invited to participate in the CAC Operation Backpack program. Each child participating in the program is given a new backpack filled with the specific items that are needed for the grade level.

Operation Backpack is an annual event that is held the week before school starts. For more information about this program, please call the CAC Program Director, 664-3558.

School Supplies for Clients in Housing Crisis

The Community Action Center developed this donations program to support the educational needs of children without permanent homes, to assure that these youth have the materials necessary to be active learners. The program is designated to assist children?from kindergarten through 12th grade?who are members of families currently using CAC emergency shelter services or participating in the CAC’s transitional housing program.

Supplies are purchased and distributed by the CAC, according to information gathered on those families that fulfill the above qualifications. This assistance is intended to help alleviate some of the anger, shame, or guilt a child might feel because of other higher priority family needs and provide them with a leg-up in their efforts to succeed in the classroom.

Christmas Sharing

The holiday season is a special time. Each year, the Northfield community draws closer together to “Share the Joy” and spirit of the season with each other through the United Christmas Sharing program.

The United Christmas Sharing program provides holiday gifts to children in the Northfield area who may need some extra care.
Learn more about the Christmas Sharing Program �

Activity Scholarships

Youth athletics and after-school programs provide structured and supervised settings for young people to learn the value of teamwork, cooperation, and leadership. Necessary fees for participation sometimes pose an obstacle for children from low income families, however. CAC financial assistance can remove that obstacle.

The CAC also assists parent-run organizations like the Northfield Youth Baseball Association, Northfield Nursery School, or the Northfield Youth Choirs in awarding their own scholarship funds to participating families. Scholarship applicants and organization volunteers alike appreciate the confidentiality that CAC staff can provide.

Camp Scholarships:
Summer is supposed to be a time for hanging out and having fun. But in real life, it can be a tough time, especially for children who are living in dysfunctional homes where being home all day is more stressful than being in school. For others with special needs, summer may be a time of missed opportunities.

One popular option is summer camp. At camp, kids make new friends and develop new skills. Kids learn to cooperate with other children from diverse family backgrounds, and learn about nature and wildlife in beautiful backwoods settings. Caring camp counselors are excellent role models, helping children accept responsibility and leadership within organized activities. After having attended camp, may children look forward to spending part of their vacation in this exciting environment again.

The CAC provides need-based summer camp scholarships for area youth who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. The CAC has information about many different camp experiences, including YMCA camps, church camps, language camp and camps for children with special needs such as physical handicaps. The CAC funds can also be used for the Carleton College Science camp or the St. Olaf College music, swim, tennis, or volleyball youth camps.

This CAC program is made possible in part by a residential camp scholarship grant from the Pohlad Family Charities. Families who qualify for this scholarship choose from any camp belonging to the American Camping Association. These scholarships are available for first-time residential camp participants and are intended for children between 10-14 years of age.