Students volunteered their time packing approximately 150 bags of food each month throughout the school year last year. Pictured, from left to right, are Cali Driskell, Claire Spiegel, Ella Meyerkorth, Audrie Meyerkorth, Addison Maifeld, and Avery Meyerkorth.
The Rock Port Backpack Buddies Program was implemented in the Rock Port School District during the 2012-2013 school year. The Backpack Buddies program has continued to be massively successful and has had a profound impact on many students’ lives in the Rock Port School District. In order to keep providing this program at the school, your continued financial support is needed.
We have all seen the price of groceries skyrocket. It has become extremely difficult for families to afford basic food items. Sadly, food insecurity is prevalent in our community. Many children who rely on free lunches during the school year go home to meager or no meals on weekends. The Backpack Buddies program works to fill that gap. Backpack Buddies is a children’s weekend feeding program. Throughout the school year, the staff and teachers at Rock Port School help identify the children they feel may be food insecure. Children must qualify for free school lunches and have permission from their guardian to be in the Backpack Buddies program.
In order to provide for weekend food needs, the committee purchases food, packs individual bags for each child, and on Fridays, the bags are placed in the students’ backpacks each week throughout the school year. Each food bag contains two breakfast items, two entree items, two fruits or vegetables, and several snacks. The sacks are filled with non-perishable, name brand, child friendly, and vitamin-fortified items of food. Examples of food items in the backpacks include fruit cups, Kraft macaroni and cheese, Chef Boyardee canned meals, Ramen cup of noodles, granola bars, beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, canned vegetables, individual boxes of cereal, instant flavored oatmeal, trail mix, Veggie Straws, applesauce pouches, fruit cups, along with numerous other items throughout the year. The food is given to the children discreetly, to avoid inviting unwanted attention.
Funds are needed for the Rock Port Backpack Buddies program to continue and the committee is willing to work hard to raise these funds. Please consider supporting a child for the Backpack Buddies Program. The cost to provide backpack meals for a child for the entire school year is approximately $275.00. A donation of any amount is welcome and very much appreciated. All donations are tax deductible and 100% of your donation will go toward food for children in the Rock Port School District.
Make checks payable to: Rock Port Ministerial Alliance (Memo: Backpack Buddies). Mail donations to: Molly Spiegel, Backpack Buddies Committee Treasurer, 15174 State Highway B, Watson, MO 64496
Venmo donations are also accepted. Venmo @RPMinisterialAlliance. (Please enter “Rock Port Backpack Buddies” on “Add A Note.”
If you have any questions or need further information, contact any of the Rock Port Backpack Buddies coordinators: Tyne Chaney (660-744-6294), Tawni Ellis (660-744-6294), Wendy Hays (660-744-6294), or Molly Spiegel (660-654-0927).
