Mayo Clinic Health System recently hosted a weight loss challenge for employees in different locations to come together as teams and compete in shedding pounds collectively. The 10-member team based in Albert Lea won a prize of $150 and chose to donate its winnings to local charity Food for Backpacks, according to a press release.

The donation was delivered to the Rev. Shane Koepke of Grace Lutheran Church, one of eight participating local churches supporting the program. The amount donated will provide 45 food kits for children in the community.

Food for Backpacks is a community-wide effort to provide food to children on weekends and during school holidays. The program currently provides over 300 food kits per week to children in the community. Each food kit is intended to supply a breakfast, lunch and snack for both Saturday and Sunday.

“It was a unanimous agreement from our group that the money should go to the backpack program and help feed the kids in our community,” said Pegi Sorenson, a financial resource center representative at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.  “We all live and work here and we all feel the importance of supporting local efforts to keep our community strong.”

Donations and fundraisers held throughout the community provide funds to purchase the food kits. Social workers work with the schools and parents may enroll if they wish to receive food kits for their children.