Backpack program feeds kids during winter break
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Feeding America developed a program called ‘Bowling Green Backpack Food Program’ to help combat childhood hunger.
“One in five kids in the school system right now goes home to a home with no food. When you think about that, there are an average of 27 kids in classroom and one in five of them are going home with no food,” said BG Backpack Food Program director Jodi Traen.
The Bowling Green Backpack Food Program was developed with those children in mind.
Each week program volunteers pack and deliver over 400 bags of food to local schools.
“We work with both city and county schools. Each family resource coordinator and assistants work with us in getting the backpacks to the kids,” said volunteer Lavonda Satterfield.
The family resource program coordinators said this program is a huge help.
“The backpack food program is a blessing for our students. We have students who don’t eat over the weekend and families that might have a little bit of difficultly providing meals for their families especially during the holiday time, so it helps out a lot,” said Family Resource Program coordinator Salia Helm.
Bags are given to the schools every week, but this week schools are receiving double the amount to last through the holiday break.
“That includes 15 to 17 items in that bag, six meals and four snacks. These are easy to prepare meals for kids. They don’t have to use a stove or a microwave. They can pop open a can and eat out of a can,” Traen said.
The program is operated by volunteers, but for Lavonda Satterfield, it’s much more than just volunteer work.
“Oh, my goodness, it is a true blessing. I have had the experience of needing that food. So, with this program, being able to do this and give this to another family is not just about food. It is about giving people hope that somebody cares, somebody is reaching out,” said Satterfield.
She hopes more people will volunteer to help fight hunger.
“Believe it or not there are kids who are not able to get on our backpack program simply because we don’t have the funds. They are probably 299 hundred or 300 more kids who could benefit from this program,” she added.
For $120 dollars a child can receive a bag of food every week for an entire school year.
If you want to donate or volunteer your time you click on this link for more information:
