Despite the uncertainty faced by many impoverished children living with food insecurity, many elementary school students found a continuous source of hope each weekend in a backpack full of food provided by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food 4 Kids program.

In Jackson County, 122 chronically hungry children, who were identified by school personnel at six elementary schools, received a backpack filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food to take home on weekends and holidays. Before receiving help from the program, many children ate little to nothing between school lunch on Friday and school breakfast on Monday.

Nearly 8,000 elementary school children in 264 schools in 38 counties in central and western Oklahoma received Food 4 Kids backpacks from the Regional Food Bank this school year. Many teachers and administrators have reported that students’ school performance, attendance and self-esteem have improved as a result of participating in the program.

"The food is helping our little ones through the weekends when we, as teachers, worry about them the most," one Food 4 Kids coordinator said. "I feel relieved, knowing that on Friday, as they carry their food home, they will not go hungry for two days. These children are really being touched by these donations."

The continued support of the community helps keep the program solidly in place and ensures chronically hungry children receive the food they need.

“I encourage residents to donate to Food 4 Kids in Jackson County,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “A $200 donation supplies one child with a backpack full of food every weekend for an entire school year.”

To find out more about the Regional Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids program, or to make a donation, visit our website at www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 405-972-1111.