KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffSEMO Food Bank donates backpacks after school fire

SEMO Food Bank donates backpacks after school fire

Posted: Updated:

  • Heartland News

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 12:04 PM EDT2012-05-22 16:04:48 GMT
    People in a Cape Girardeau neighborhood say they're fed up with a recent rash of burglaries and vandalism. The vandals hit homes on Sussex and Derbyshire Lane last night. Neighbors say they slashed
    The vandals hit homes on Sussex and Derbyshire Lane last night.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:38 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:38:03 GMT
    Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is weighing legislation creating a new state fund that would help finance construction at public colleges and universities.
    Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is weighing legislation creating a new state fund that would help finance construction at public colleges and universities.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:36 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:36:36 GMT
    A day of solemn remembrances and forward-looking celebrations is planned Tuesday as Joplin commemorates the anniversary of a tornado that ripped the city in half.
    A day of solemn remembrances and forward-looking celebrations is planned Tuesday as Joplin commemorates the anniversary of a tornado that ripped the city in half.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:35 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:35:50 GMT
    The Kentucky State Police Trooper of the Year has been announced, and he is Clyde Dingess of Williamsburg.
    The Kentucky State Police Trooper of the Year has been announced, and he is Clyde Dingess of Williamsburg.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:33 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:33:24 GMT
    COLUMBIA, Mo. – Tomatoes reign supreme as the No. 1 home garden vegetable for a reason. "Our friend tomato is one of the easiest vegetables to grow," said Tim Reinbott, superintendent at the University
    Tomatoes reign supreme as the No. 1 home garden vegetable for a reason.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:20 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:20:54 GMT
    A couple of weeks ago, people from Olive Branch voted on five different plans on how to best rebuild their town after last year's massive flood. Tonight, the results of that vote will be made public at
    A couple of weeks ago, people from Olive Branch voted on five different plans on how to best rebuild their town after last year's massive flood.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 12:04 PM EDT2012-05-22 16:04:57 GMT
    A southern Illinois man faces up to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty in a 2009 shooting death involving a gun stolen from Carbondale's police chief.
    A southern Illinois man faces up to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty in a 2009 shooting death involving a gun stolen from Carbondale's police chief.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 12:02 PM EDT2012-05-22 16:02:17 GMT
    For people who waited all evening to find out who will take over the Chaffee police department, that wait just got a little longer. At the end of a City Council meeting Monday night city leaders announced
    For people who waited all evening to find out who will take over the Chaffee police department, that wait just got a little longer.

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:55 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:55:35 GMT
    Two Missouri organizations oppose a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) proposal to ban sales of crayfish as live bait. The Missouri farm Bureau has joined the Missouri Aquaculture Association in
    Two Missouri organizations oppose a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) proposal to ban sales of crayfish as live bait. The Missouri farm Bureau has joined the Missouri Aquaculture Association in

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 11:50 AM EDT2012-05-22 15:50:24 GMT
    By Holly Brantley (KFVS) - Ever had a family vacation turn into a National Lampoon's style fiasco? There are easy things you can do to prevent that from happening. We talked to seasoned travelers, and
    Ever had a family vacation turn into a National Lampoon's style fiasco? There are easy things you can do to prevent that from happening.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) -

 

A lot of things were lost in last week's fire at Blanchard Elementary in Cape Girardeau.

For one thing, it destroyed the teachers' workroom.  It drove students out of their school, to temporary classrooms in nearby Lynwood Baptist Church.

Superintendent Dr. James Welker thinks Blanchard students will have to keep holding classes at Lynwood until after Christmas break.

It also destroyed the backpacks the school uses in its "Backpacks for Friday" program.

So, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank is asking for donations for new backpacks.

The program serves about 500 needy children every week.

Each student get 10 pounds of food in a backpack on Fridays to take home on the weekend.

Amanda Winschel with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank explains how kids are chosen to take part in the program.

"We make sure that we work with our schools, you know, very closely and let them help identify these students," Winschel said. "They know what kids go to bed hungry.  They know when on Monday morning those kids that are asking for seconds and asking for extra meals.  And so we're able to help partner with them and help identify those children."

The program started two years ago, serving only two schools.

Now it serves 25 schools in 16 southeast Missouri counties.

For more information on the Southeast Missouri Food Bank click here.  Call (573)651-0400 to help.

Copyright KFVS 2011. All rights reserved.