Buddy Packs
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What are Buddy Packs?
Thousands of children rely on free and reduced-price lunches at school, but what about their nutritional needs on weekends? Buddy Packs provide meals and snacks for elementary students to take home at the end of each school week, meeting that gap. Buddy Packs are pre-packaged bags with a variety of food each week, with items like easy-to-make meals, cereal, and peanut butter.
Putnam County Elementary School is currently serving 30 buddy packs weekly. We have a community volunteer who goes and picks up the buddy packs from Kirksville, MO, each month and he delivers/unloads the buddy packs to the school - THANK YOU!
What is the need for Buddy Packs?
One in six children in The Food Bank’s service area faces hunger on a regular basis, with more than half qualifying for free or reduced-price meals at school. Studies show children who face food insecurity are more likely to repeat experience problems at school, are more likely to suffer from anxiousness and irritability, and tend to have to repeat a grade at school more often than peers who are not food insecure. In our service area, teachers report improved grades, behavior, and social skills when children receive Buddy Packs.
The Food Bank spends approximately $7.50 to supply one Buddy Pack to a student, giving them the nutrition they need for the weekend. A donation of $270 provides Buddy Packs to one student for a year.
If you think your child (family) would benefit from this program, or you would like to make a donation to the Buddy Pack Program please contact Cheryl Mayer at 660-947-3361 ext. 395 or email cmayer@putnamcountyr1.net
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