Every Friday Gallatin FBLA members package and deliver Backpack Buddy items to classrooms. Students receive a bag of nutritious food to take home for the weekend or before extended holidays. Pictured, left to right, are Madison Rounkles, Tristyn Siegel, Bailey Maxwell, Hannah Mullins, Morgan Acree and Andrew Michael. Not pictured: Tannah Terry, Aubrey Nelson, Macon Allen and Maria Bickford. [Staff Photo/TLH]
Three Daviess County Schools are involved in the Backpack Buddies program this year, Gallatin R-5, Winston R-6, and Pattonsburg R-2.
Backpack Buddies is the supplemental weekend feeding program of Second Harvest Community Food Bank which is headquartered in St. Joseph. The backpacks are stuffed full of kid-friendly meals — microwaveable meals, cereal, fruit cups, peanut butter, etc — foods that make up a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack. Children receive their backpack each weekend during the school year, including extended breaks.
“The Backpack Buddy Program is a wonderful program where all of the donations go directly back to children within our school district,” said Barb Holcomb, FBLA sponsor at Gallatin R-5. “Nothing is more rewarding than knowing our organization is truly making a difference in the life of a child.”
Backpack payback — better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance — have all been attributed to success of the program.
Gallatin currently serves 55 children in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Gallatin FBLA will be sponsoring the Shoe Box Blessings Project to go along with Backpack Buddies again this year. Each child that participates in the program will receive a shoe box filled with necessity items along with coloring books, gloves, etc., during the last week of school before Christmas break. Items needed in bulk include shampoo, soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions, gloves, combs and brushes, and colors. Any church, business, or family interested in donating items to be placed in the boxes should contact Barb Holcomb or Shonna Morrison at the school.
Winston’s Backpack Buddies funding supports 20 students. The program will be reevaluated at Christmas to see about adding students.
Pattonsburg R-2 National Honor Society has partnered with Second Harvest to offer the Backpack Buddies program at R-2, which is right now in the start-up stage.
Shonna Morrison, Toni Cox, and Barbara Holcomb are contacts for the Gallatin Backpack Buddies project. Anyone with questions can feel free to call 663-2173 (elementary) 663-2171 (high school). Members of the Gallatin community can donate online by visiting the school website at gallatin.k12.mo.us and clicking on the Backpack Buddies link on the right. Mail donations to the school at Gallatin R-5 School, Attn: Backpack Buddies, 602 South Olive, Gallatin, Mo., 64640.
To send contributions to the Winston R-6 Backpack Buddies program: Rachel Turner, Winston R-6, 200 W. Third St., Winston, Mo., 64689. Checks Payable: Winston Elementary. R-6 has a link on the school webpage at www.winston.k12.mo.us that will take visitors to their Backpack Buddies site.
Please forward any donations to Pattonsburg R-2 National Honor Society in care of Lacey Henry, School Counselor. Contact her at 660-367-2111.
