By Melody Laky Melody.laky@smail.astate.edu The BackPack Program By Melody Laky Melody.laky@smail.astate.edu

What is the BackPack Program? For more than 15 years, the Feeding America BackPack Program has been helping children get the nutritious and easy-to-prepare food they need to get enough to eat on the weekends.

Who does the BackPack Program help? More than 22 million children receive free or reduced- price meals through the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program. For many of these children, school meals may be the only meals they eat. Today, bags of food are assembled at more than 160 local food banks and then distributed to more than 450,000 children at the end of the week

Child Hunger in America 1 in 6 children wonder when they will get their next meal 13.1 million children live in households without food all of the time that is over 20% of the children throughout the U.S. Top 5 states with the highest rate of food-insecure children under 18 were Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, Alabama, and Arkansas Top five states with the lowest rate of food-insecure children under 18 were North Dakota, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Virginia

Food Assistance for the Children 12 million children under the age 18 are given food to by the Feeding America Program 3.5 million of these children are under the age of 5

What happens to a child facing hunger? Children from families that struggle from hunger are more likely to: Repeat a grade in school Experience developmental delays with language and motor skills Experience more social and behavior problems The first 3 years of a child’s life are critical for a child’s physical development

How the BackPack Program works? On the last day of the school week, program enrolled children pick up a backpack filled with food for the weekend. The backpacks are filled with easy-to-prepare meals and snacks and are provided to children in a safe and discreet manner These students take their backpacks home, knowing they will have food for the weekend Items are included for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack for Saturday and Sunday

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas They provide food to 1100 students every week for this school year Some school districts around here include: Maynard School District Lawrence County School District Marked Tree School District Nettleton School District Jonesboro Public Schools And many more…

How Northeast Arkansas FoodBank works Since 1983 the Food Bank has distributed more than 30 million pounds of food throughout Northeast Arkansas. The Food Bank’s Core Food Distribution Program accepts donated bulk food, that would otherwise be destroyed, from local and national manufacturers, retailers and growers The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas provides hunger relief to people in need by raising awareness, securing resources, and distributing food through a network of non-profit agencies and programs

What kind of food do they need? Peanut Butter Macaroni & Cheese Canned Tuna Rice Canned Meats Canned Vegetables Canned Fruits Soups & Stews Fruit Snacks Any other non perishable items

How can you get involved? Find your local food bank and volunteer your time Donate any food that you might not be using Look at the list I provided Tell the local food bank if you know a child in need

References http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/helping-hungry-children/backpack- program/ http://foodbankofnea.org/backpack-program/