Harvest Regional Food Bank's Backpack Program is entering its 10th year. The program provides food-insecure school children with nutritious snacks and meals on weekends and school holidays when they don't have access to school breakfasts and lunches.
The program will be on 30 campuses this year, including new campuses in Magnolia, Foreman, Lafayette County and Springhill, Ark., and officials expect about 800 children to be served.
"We are right in the middle of getting everything ready and getting that program rolling," said Camille Wrinkle, Harvest executive director. "We've already started sending out letters to teacher and school backpack coordinators, and we hope to have our first distribution in the middle of September. That gives our teachers time with the students to really get to know the students and get an idea of which students in their class need the program the most. Basically these are children who are the most vulnerable and at-risk for not having food in the home over the weekend."
Making sure children are not going hungry has a big impact on their education.
"Studies show kids can't learn if they're hungry. Their mind is focused on the lunch bell ringing. The tend to act out more, visit the nurse more often. Through our communication with our school coordinators, we get feedback that there is an improvement in all these areas with students who are in our Backpack Program," Wrinkle said.
The cost of the program is approximately $125 per child for the entire school year.
Financial donations are the best way for the community to help support this program.
"Honestly, financial contributions to this program are most appreciated. We do not do food drives for the Backpack Program. We want all the kids to have the same standard of nutrition across the board. We want everything to be kid-friendly so we buy in bulk. That way every student gets the same nutritious food every weekend," Wrinkle said.
For more information about the Backpack Program and how to help, call Harvest at 870-774-1398.