Through speaking and networking with Gina Leeper, an Eckstein Charity Program Officer, I was able to connect our 4-H Back Pack program to a donor of $40,000. This will feed the at-risk children for a year over weekends when it is unclear if they are being fed while not in school.

The 4-H Backpack program was established eighteen years ago by McCracken County teenagers at a 4-H Issues Conference. Teens were to take an issue that impacted our community and find a way to make a difference. Many of our children in the City and County school systems are fortunate enough to have parents who are able to provide for them. Unfortunately, there are many who do their best to make ends meet and still need additional help.

The backpack program is for school-aged youth who do not know where their next meal will come from. Teachers and Family Resource Center coordinators identify youth who fit these criteria. Each Friday, children are sent home with a backpack filled with food for the weekend so that they will not go hungry. Each week extension personnel purchase food and bring items to McCracken County High School. Students and 4-H teens fill the backpacks with a variety of food and snacks that are easily consumed without any preparation. We have had tremendous success, but the demand for food is greater than the supply. Our program begins in August and concludes at the end of May (school calendar.) We supply roughly 460 backpacks to children weekly with food purchased only from community monetary contributions.

Hi Kelly,

I wanted to tell you first what the amount of the grant is for the backpack program….$40,000. One of our Trustees is making a one-time discretionary grant.  She is very passionate about feeding people, especially hungry children.

Because the amount is almost the entire program, we will need to utilize the Community Foundation of West KY as a pass-through for payment.  In other words, we will send them the check for $40,000 made payable to them but designated for the McCracken County 4-H Backpack program then they will cut you a check.  It will take me some time to get all the paperwork together, but it will definitely be before the year's end.

Hope this brings a smile to your face!

See you soon,

Gina

Gina Leeper, CM, C.Mgr

Program Officer

Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust

4965 Village Square Drive Ste A

Paducah, KY  42001

270-534-8930

www.ecksteincharity.org