Volunteers stuff thousands of backpacks for hungry kids

For the third year, Party for the Good brought volunteers from around the area to pack food bags for the Southeast Missouri Food Bank's Backpacks for Friday program.

On Friday, more than 800 volunteers gathered at the Osage Centre to pack more than 10,000 bags of food to be distributed to families every Friday through the school year.

During the week, children are provided with breakfast and lunch through their schools. But according to Amanda Winschel, children's program manager with the food bank, 20,000 children in Southeast Missouri "don't know where their meal will come from on weekends."

The Backpacks for Friday program was designed to fill that gap, she said.

Volunteers fill backpacks with meals and snacks, which are discreetly distributed to children throughout the school year to take home over the weekend or a holiday vacation. Children return the backpacks Monday.

Judy and Nick Leist operate the sealer for the food bags assembled by volunteers during the Party for the Good Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 at the Osage Centre. (Fred Lynch)

Winschel said there are 48 elementary schools involved in the program. The backpacks are distributed to 2,400 children each week.

This year, she said volunteer numbers were up at the Party for the Good event.

"Every year, we see new faces as well as the same faces," Winschel said. "It's a good opportunity for people who can't volunteer all the time. It gives them one day to volunteer and they know it's going to be the same time every year."

The annual event is always in September, she said, because it's Hunger Action Month. It's an all-day event that starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. By midday, volunteers had packed about 3,000 bags. Winschel said about 600 people were expected to show up to complete the job during the final packing shift at 5 p.m.

Some of the volunteers that showed Friday came alone or with a friend. But many came with a school group, sports team or business group. Ali Brown came with 14 other students in the Southeast Missouri State University Student Dietetics Association.

Brady Wright, left, and Garret Stockton, members of the Redhawks baseball team, transport the food bags to a truck during the Party for the Good Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 at the Osage Centre. (Fred Lynch)

"We're looking to do about two volunteer projects a month, and one of our professors actually suggested this," Brown said.

This was her first year participating in the event. Brown said she heard of the program's need for volunteers and hoped to see the numbers continue to increase.

Charley Puls also was a first-time volunteer. He came with 10 other people from Regions Bank. While most volunteers worked a three-hour packing or stocking shift, his group arrived at 8:45 a.m. and still was stuffing bags at 2 p.m.

He said there was a great need in the area for a program such as Backpacks for Friday.

"I think it's an excellent idea," said Puls. "People just don't realize there is such a need out there. We're so fortunate to have the food bank and all these donations."

Although this is the only public event for the Backpacks for Friday program, Winschel said volunteers will be needed for packing at the food bank in October and November.

Those interested in volunteering or donating may visit semofoodbank.org.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.