Several years ago, the backpack program was created at the 4-H Issues Conference. This program was designed by high school students who saw a need to help the less fortunate youth in all of McCracken County and Paducah City Schools by making sure they have food to eat over the weekend. According to the last Census, 16.8% of the families in McCracken County fall below the poverty line. 

Each week members of the McCracken County Extension team, go to Sam’s to purchase non-perishable food items, take those items to McCracken County High School, where we partner with about 50 students and teachers to fill our backpacks. It costs approximately $1,200 each week to feed these students and the program goes on throughout the entire school year starting after Labor Day. It costs around $38,000 to do this program every year. We would not be able to continue this every year without the support of our wonderful community. Over the last few years Paducah Bank, Woodman of the World, Falconite, and several other donations have helped us keep the program going with their generous donations. 

As a result of this program not only are nearly 400 students are being fed each week, but our high school students are learning the importance of giving back to their community and addressing the needs that they see. These students learn to work together to accomplish this goal each and every week.