​Edmonson County’s BackPack Program Still Feeding Kids One Backpack At A Time

by Amber Lyvers, Feeding America:
Most parents cannot imagine not having enough food available at home to feed their family, but for approximately 1 in 4 children in Edmonson 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 Edmonson County BackPack Program fills the void.

Through their partnership with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank (FAKH) in Elizabethtown, schools in Brownsville and Edmonson 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 $13,000 was raised for the BackPack Program last school year.  This allowed nearly 4,500 bags to be distributed to more than 100 students.

“The BackPack Program is very important to the children of Edmonson County," said local BackPack Coordinator Michelle McCoy. "Over the past few years, we been able to make sure that 100+ kids, from Head Start to High School, have not gone hungry over the weekends.  We live in a wonderful county that always supports a cause, so today, I am asking for everyone to support one child for the upcoming school year.  I welcome any questions about this program and how it works."

Last year over 100 Brownsville and Edmonson 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 Edmonson 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 Edmonson County BackPack program, you can contact Michelle McCoy at 270-781-6200. 

---