SEMO Food Bank continues Weekend Backpack Program

SIKESTON, Mo. (KFVS) - A BFF in school typically means “Best Friend Forever,” but at the Southeast Missouri (SEMO) Food Bank, in Sikeston, it means Backpacks For Friday.

Each week, students enrolled in the program are give a weekend’s worth of food to take home.

“It’s something so little and so small that most of us take for granted and it means the world to these students,” said SEMO Food Bank Donor Relations Specialist Heather Collier. “A lot of kids rely on school breakfast and lunch programs during the school year, but the weekends and the holidays it goes away...so they’re able to take a pack of food home every Friday. It’s all pop-top easy open containers so they can feed themselves.”

This organization expect the need to be even greater.

It takes just $5 to fill each bag.

“We’re sending out 1200 bags a week are going out to around 30 schools...so this is in their community it’s not going anywhere outside of Southeast Missouri,” Camille Peters, Partner Relations and Compliance Director, said. “I think when you’re here and you see that this food is being packed individually it just gives you a bigger understanding that there’s a lot of children that need this.”

Organizers urge those considering enrollment not to be embarrassed to ask for help.

You can visit the SEMO Food Bank here for more information.

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