Backpack food program expanded to Blanchard

The "Backpacks for Friday" program, which delivers nutritional meals and snacks to low-income children for the weekend, is being expanded to serve children at Blanchard Elementary School beginning this Friday.

The backpack program, which started in September, is a collaboration between the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, the United Way of Southeast Missouri, GRACES Women's Council and Cape Girardeau Public Schools. Eighteen students will be served during the first week at Blanchard.

The cost of the program averages $6.50 per student per week (excluding the cost of the backpack) or $230 per year.

Becky Kies, chairwoman of the GRACES Women's Council, said in a press release that the group has been raising additional funds and hopes one day to offer the program to all elementary schools in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, said schools are being chosen based on their populations of families that qualify for free and reduced lunches. Seventy-six percent of Blanchard's school population falls into that category, the United Way reported.