Wendy Hays, Rock Port School Nurse, holds one of the bags of food she puts in students’ backpacks each week.  At the present time, 28 Rock Port students are receiving food from this program.

Children participating in the Backpack Buddies Program receive a refill sack filled with food for the weekend.

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 successful and has had a profound impact on many students’ lives in the school district. Your continued support is requested, in order to keep providing this program.

More than one out of six children in the United States lives in a food-insecure household – which means they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. We all know the importance of nutrition for physical and mental health. Imagine the consequences of not having enough food – let alone nutritious food – as a child. 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 in partnership with the Second Harvest Community Food Bank of St. Joseph, Missouri. Children must qualify for free school lunches to be in the Backpack Buddies program. Each week throughout the school year, children (who have permission from their parents to be involved in the program) will receive a refill sack filled with single serving, non-perishable, child friendly, easily consumed, and vitamin-fortified items of food for the weekend. These sacks will be placed in the child’s backpack at school every Friday. 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 working to raise these funds. All individuals, organizations and businesses are asked to consider supporting a child for the Backpack Buddies Program. The cost to provide backpack meals for a child for the entire school year is $175. 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.

If you have any questions or need further information, contact any of the Rock Port Backpack Buddies Coordinators: Tawni Ellis, 660-744-6294 ext. 307; Sharon Gaines, 660-744-2336 or 660-744-3454; or Molly Spiegel, 660-654-0927 or 660-389-1343.