Packing Hope into the Weekend
August is here, and with its arrival, the exciting preparation for a new school year! For most kids, it’s about the anticipation of connecting with familiar classmates and new teachers, or maybe even new clothes and fun back-to-school accessories. But for some kids, heading back to school might just mean the end of wondering where their next meal is coming from. It may just signify the return of consistently being able to eat breakfast and lunch again.
Even with the return of school meals, too many Arkansas students will still experience hunger over the weekend. After receiving lunch on Friday, can you imagine a child not eating again until Monday morning? This time of year reminds us of the importance of food for children who are learning. A child experiencing hunger cannot focus on their schoolwork, which causes their grades to slip, and suddenly they begin falling behind in class. But this is a cycle that can be prevented with your help.
These backpack kits include easy-to-prepare food for students to subtly stow away in their backpacks, and each kit comes with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus two snacks for Saturday and Sunday.
If you’re interested in supporting this important program for students in central and southern Arkansas, you can make a gift today. Our friends at Renaissance Homes are doubling your donation – up to $20,000! Donate here!
Each year, we ask school Backpack program coordinators to share stories with us about the impact of their program. Teresa, from England Elementary School, shared this with us:
“We recently added two kindergarten siblings to the program when their teachers noticed they had lost weight and discovered they were stuffing their pockets full of food during lunch to take home. They have a two-year-old and a brand new baby sibling in the house. Dad works a minimum wage job, and mom stays home with the little ones. All of them are excited about the food backpack.”
Because of your generous support, we’re able to ensure children across central and southern Arkansas have enough food to eat over the weekend! Thank you!