| McCracken
Backpack Food For Kids
Program Growing | |
|
“The Backpack Food for
Kids program started by a group of teens that went to the 4-H Issues
Conference from Torey Earle, McCracken County Extension agent for 4-H Youth Development |
By Laura Skillman PADUCAH, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2004)
– Three years ago, McCracken County 4-H members decided to tackle hunger in
their community by providing backpacks filled with food for youngsters at two
elementary schools to take home over the weekend. Today, the program has
expanded into seven schools in the county. “The Backpack Food for Kids
program started by a group of teens that went to the 4-H Issues Conference from The backpacks are filled with
nonperishable items that don’t require any preparation. Backpacks are used
because they are commonly seen in schools, making it less obvious that a family
or child is in need if they are carrying a backpack home versus a sack or box
containing food, he said. “It has really taken off, in
the three years we’ve been doing it, we’ve gone from stuffing five or six
backpacks a week to stuffing 40 to 45 a week this year,” Earle said. Children are selected for the
backpack program through the school’s family resource centers or guidance
counselors. One of the schools in the system has 97 percent of its students on
free and reduced lunches and that school receives 20 packs but could use twice
that amount, he said. Children pick up the backpacks at the family resource
centers at their schools and return them there as well for refilling. Through this coming year, the
4-H youth hope to obtain enough food, backpacks and funds through grants and
donations to move into even more schools. Each year, the 4-Hers have gotten
grants for the program. 4-H is a community of young people across The 4-H members also conduct
food drives at Bruce Carter, a senior at “I feel like it is a good
thing for our community and last week I went to pick up the extra backpacks and
everybody there was so appreciative of what we were doing," he said.
"It really made me feel like I was doing something for the
community. I’m proud of this program. We are trying to involve some of the
younger students because most of us are seniors and we want this program to
continue.” Senior Liz Block said she
became involved after attending the 4-H Issues Conference and on a recent trip
to deliver backpacks saw firsthand the appreciativeness their efforts receive. “It just makes you feel so
good,” she said. “Then, the other day, we were filling up this huge backpack
for a little girl that didn’t want to take one anymore because she had too
many brothers and sisters and they fought over the food. It was such a selfless
thing for a kid to say no I’m not going to eat since my brothers and sisters
can’t eat so we just filled up a great big one for them. It makes you feel
good.” Block said she does not think
they really need any recognition for what they are doing; they get it from just
taking the backpacks and picking them up. Senior Shadea Mitchell said
many of the clubs at Lone Oak High conduct food drives for the 4-H backpack
program, plus local churches have helped. “It has been a real effort
from every place that we can get help from,” she said.
-30- Writer: Laura Skillman 270-365-7541 ext. 278 Source: Torey Earle, 270-554-9520 Return to Main News page. |
