Cassville receives 100 backpacks for food program
Helping Hands Community Pantry donated 100 backpacks to be filled with food for children in need by Cassville Schools on Tuesday. Pictured above, from left to right: Ed Trease, Helping Hands treasurer; Rita Stringer, Helping Hands volunteer coordinator; Shelley Sparkman, Intermediate School counselor; Linda Ball, Helping Hands volunteer secretary; and Kristie Preddy, Primary counselor.
May 27, 2015
Shania Stumpff
For the past nine years, the Cassville School District has utilized the Backpack Program started by Primary School counselor Kristie Preddy. The program provides children food for meals every Friday that they take home, a program that ensures children have adequate nutrition outside of the walls of the school.
The meals are inside a backpack provided by the school. Inside are the makings of a total of six meals and two snacks, enough for three meals a day over the weekend. During times when teachers are busy with students doing other activities, the staff puts the meals into the kids’ backpacks so it isn’t noticeable for the other students.
The older students who receive the meals usually have them placed inside their backpack in their locker while they are in class. The school tries to make it as private as possible to protect children from any stigmas about their home life.
Yesterday, May 26, the Helping Hands Community Food Pantry in Eagle Rock donated 100 backpacks for the upcoming year. Jill LeCompte, Cassville Assistant Superintendent, said, “We had kindergarten classes donate to the Helping Hands Community Building, and, in return, they help us.”
Helping Hands treasurer Ed Trease said, “Our passion is providing for the children in our area with the hope that none go to bed hungry and all have some food in the household daily.”
Throughout the school year teachers watch the students and turn in referrals for the ones they think need help from the Backpack Program. This program is offered through each of the schools at Cassville, although the elementary and primary have the higher numbers of kids who need this assistance.
The younger students receive food that easier to handle without much preparation, and the older students will receive several things that they can cook at home.
Once a teacher turns in a referral for a child, the counselors then fulfill the responsibility of issuing the bags.
All the funding for this program is through private donations. Now that the Helping Hands Community Food Pantry has supplied the bags, it will be easier for the school to buy food with donations.
For more information about the Backpack Program, contact the Cassville R-IV District Office at (417) 847-2221.
Helping Hands Community Food Pantry is located at 29497 State Highway 86 in Eagle Rock. They provide food and household supplies to approximately 70 families in the Eagle Rock, Golden and Mano communities each month.
Shania Stumpff
For the past nine years, the Cassville School District has utilized the Backpack Program started by Primary School counselor Kristie Preddy. The program provides children food for meals every Friday that they take home, a program that ensures children have adequate nutrition outside of the walls of the school.
The meals are inside a backpack provided by the school. Inside are the makings of a total of six meals and two snacks, enough for three meals a day over the weekend. During times when teachers are busy with students doing other activities, the staff puts the meals into the kids’ backpacks so it isn’t noticeable for the other students.
The older students who receive the meals usually have them placed inside their backpack in their locker while they are in class. The school tries to make it as private as possible to protect children from any stigmas about their home life.
Yesterday, May 26, the Helping Hands Community Food Pantry in Eagle Rock donated 100 backpacks for the upcoming year. Jill LeCompte, Cassville Assistant Superintendent, said, “We had kindergarten classes donate to the Helping Hands Community Building, and, in return, they help us.”
Helping Hands treasurer Ed Trease said, “Our passion is providing for the children in our area with the hope that none go to bed hungry and all have some food in the household daily.”
Throughout the school year teachers watch the students and turn in referrals for the ones they think need help from the Backpack Program. This program is offered through each of the schools at Cassville, although the elementary and primary have the higher numbers of kids who need this assistance.
The younger students receive food that easier to handle without much preparation, and the older students will receive several things that they can cook at home.
Once a teacher turns in a referral for a child, the counselors then fulfill the responsibility of issuing the bags.
All the funding for this program is through private donations. Now that the Helping Hands Community Food Pantry has supplied the bags, it will be easier for the school to buy food with donations.
For more information about the Backpack Program, contact the Cassville R-IV District Office at (417) 847-2221.
Helping Hands Community Food Pantry is located at 29497 State Highway 86 in Eagle Rock. They provide food and household supplies to approximately 70 families in the Eagle Rock, Golden and Mano communities each month.