The Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee Backpack Program supplies children who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend with discreet packs of food slipped into their school backpacks on Friday so they will have food to eat at home.
Ms. Jones coordinates the BackPack Program at a local elementary school. She gets student referrals from teachers in the school, including a program that serves students experiencing homelessness. There are 35 children total enrolled in the BackPack Program in her school. She says the surrounding area's population is primarily low-income and students are very open about their needs.
She says, "It's heartbreaking to hear, 'I don't have any food when I go home.' They're so thankful to get the food. They get two free meals here, and there's also an after-school program that some can go to. It's a godsend. Students who go through many transitions can have behavior issues, but enrolling them in the BackPack Program helps. Parents might be embarrassed or not know that they can ask for help, but when they find out about these resources, they're shocked that this is something we can offer. The food bags are part of a wrap-around service. When a teacher identifies a student who needs a food bag, that's a flag for us to help them with other services. Then, their grades and everything else start to improve."
Ms Jones' message to donors: "Thank you. It goes back to how we have so many wonderful things during the school day, but this is one of the only things that helps kids after school or on break. It has been really helpful for the kids and families facing hunger."