Backpack Buddies is the supplemental weekend feeding program of the Second Harvest Community Food Bank at St. Joseph. It operates in 15 counties and relies on monetary donations.

School children are provided with a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack each weekend during the school year, including extended breaks.
Children receive food based on four rotating menus offered throughout the school year.

Over 3,100 children in the 15 counties encompass over 50 schools, Head Start or after-school programs for 36 weeks of the 2012-2013 school year.

From this area: participating counties include Grundy, Livingston, Harrison and Caldwell. Second Harvest anticipates Daviess County will soon participate.

For Grundy County, program coordinator Ginny Wikoff said Backpack Buddies has grown from 40 students in the first year, up to 90 last year, with now a goal of serving 120 children this year. The average cost to provide nutritious food each weekend for ONE student for ALL 36 weeks is 150 dollars. Ms. Wikoff said funds
for the Grundy County effort are about half-way toward the goal of 18 thousand dollars.

Backpack buddies food program will be offered in six Grundy county schools.

Money can be contributed locally by contacting Ginny Wikoff of Trenton or the Grundy County community food pantry--OPEN 9 TO 11 Tuesdays and Thursdays Checks also can be sent to Second Harvest Food Bank at 915 Douglas in St. Joseph—naming the county in the memo line.

Donations also can be made on-line at the web site: www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org. Click on donations and specify the county that your contribution goes to.