Beech Tree News Network

Most parents cannot imagine not having enough food available at home to feed their family, but for approximately 1 in 4 children in Butler County this is the harsh reality. Fortunately, many who are students have been identified by school administrators, teachers, cafeteria workers, or family resource directors as being at-risk of going hungry on the weekends when the school meals they often rely on are unavailable.  That’s where the Butler County BackPack Program fills the void. Through their partnership with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank (FAKH) in Elizabethtown, schools in Morgantown and Butler County receive funding assistance as well as pre-packed bags of 14-17 food items that are distributed at the end of each week.
Teachers and staff continually see the positive impact this program, and the food it provides, is making in the lives of these children.  Students arrive at school on Monday morning better prepared to study and learn instead of being solely focused on their empty stomachs.
As a result of many generous donations, over $17,000 was raised for the BackPack Program last school year.  This allowed almost 6,000 bags to be distributed in the community.
“Because of our partnership with Feeding America we get to send students home weekly with healthy and accessible choices such as granola bars, fruit cups, and peanut butter and crackers.   These food items are ready to eat and don’t require use of an oven, or in some cases an adult, to assist in preparation. The kids who participate in the program are sent home on the weekends with a sack of food to ensure their nutritional needs are better met on the weekends when they do not have the luxury to eat two balanced meals at school,” said Butler County Family Resource Center Coordinator Melissa Glass.
Last year 143 Morgantown and Butler County students were supported by FAKH’s BackPack Program and the need continues to grow each year.  Please consider supporting the program for the 2017-2018 school year if you haven’t already.  For just $3.00 per week ($120 per school year), you can Adopt-A-BackPacker in Butler County. You can either make your tax-deductible donation online at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/feedingamericaky or mail your donation to FAKH, P.O. Box 821, Elizabethtown, KY 42702. For more information about the Butler County BackPack program, you can contact Gary McKinney at 270-526-2082.

About Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland
Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland is a regional food bank that provides assistance to more than 174,500 people in 42 Kentucky counties each year.  Through support from individuals and organizations, such as United Way, FAKH distributes over 14 million pounds of food to approximately 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. FAKH also sponsors various hunger relief programs including the BackPack™ Program and Senior Box (CSFP) Program.  FAKH’s main office and warehouses are located on Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  For more information or to volunteer, sponsor a fundraiser or a food drive, or to make a secure online donation to Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, visit their website at:  www.feedingamericaky.org