Vote For Sue Kutz and Back The Pack

Sue Kutz (and Back The Pack) is one of 10 finalist for the L'OREAL Women of Worth  contest. If Sue gets the most votes, Back The Pack will get $25,000 from L'OREAL. Click here to vote for Sue.

Read below to see why Sue has been nominated:

Sue Kutz 58 - Rock Hill , SC

"Imagine children, kindergarteners on up to seniors in high school, who are right here in my community, going 66 hours between a meal in school on Friday, to eating something healthy on Monday! I couldn't bear to think that approximately 1,300 local students faced this dire situation. We talked about it as a family, and we decided that we had to help get a program started. I often hear about individual cases that show how “Back The Pack” touches the youngsters we are helping. My hope is that some day these students will be outstanding young adults who are giving back to our community." 

Sue Kutz believes no child should have to leave school on Friday with the knowledge that they won’t be having another meal until they return to school on Monday. Sue helped spearhead community efforts with the Rock Hill School District Foundation to establish Back The Pack, a program which ensures that students in her region do not have to face hunger every weekend. What began as a personal mission has evolved into a program that serves more than 600 elementary and middle school students. 

In the spring of 2008, the Rock Hill Schools Administrative Staff researched external reasons why all students are not achieving at greater levels in the district's public schools. Administrators surveyed Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, and other Support Staff to collect data. Information collected from surveys revealed a number of astonishing external problems that hinder student achievement every day across the district. Identified problems ranged from students not having appropriate medical care, a lack of proper hygiene, and surprisingly, many students displayed consistent symptoms of chronic hunger. Undernourishment negatively affects student’s health, ability to focus, and overall well being. A lack of food can cause headaches, stomach pains, stunt growth, deter thinking, sap energy, and contribute to learning disabilities. Sue's outstanding service helps provide food to undernourished students in elementary and middle schools. 

During the 2008-2009 school year, weekend food packs were discreetly distributed to 550 elementary age students in Rock Hill Schools on Fridays. 1,300 students were identified as needing food from the Back the Pack program during this school year. Due to limited resources, we are currently serving 675 elementary and middle school students. The local community has embraced this cause and has provided $98,500, thousands of food donations, and hundreds of volunteers have invested thousands of hours to support the program. That's why Sue is a 2010 Woman of Worth.