Backpack Buddies, which provides weekend meals for school children, has been a success story in Harrison County.
But the Harrison County Food Pantry, which distributes the meals to area schools, has found a growing demand for the program to provide a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack for children who may not have access to such meals on the weekends.
Cathy Smith, treasurer of the Food Pantry, said all five Harrison County school districts are participating in the Backpack Buddies program. About 125 students receive meals that are stocked in their satchels to take home on the weekends.
âSome schools have more students being added each week, and Iâm not sure how many we will end up with,â Smith said.
âWe donât want to turn down any that have the need,â she said.
The Second Harvest Community Food Bank based in St. Joseph sponsors the Backpack Buddies program.
Local organizations, churches and individuals have been contributing to the program to supply the backpacks. It costs $150 to provide a backpack to each child during the school year.
âWe have a lot more students this year and need at least $10,000 moreâ in contributions, Smith said.
A USDA report found that Missouri ranks next to the last among states struggling to feed the hungry, according to an article in Tuesdayâs St. Joseph News-Press. Second Harvest reported that thousands of Northwest Missouri families depend upon local food banks.
On that subject, Smith said the Food Pantry, currently located at the Bethany Multipurpose Center, has signed a contract with Eckardâs to lease space in the businessâs warehouse. The group is moving forward to remodel the building.