According to statistics from the USDA, Kentucky ranks as the 14th highest state in the nation for the number of food insecure children under the age of 18. This would indicate that approximately 200,000 Kentucky children, at some point and time, do not have access to enough food for an active, healthy life or that the food in their homes is not nutritionally adequate for growing bodies. To address the need for Laurel County children to have food on the weekends, when school meals were not available, the Laurel County Backpack Club, with the help of many other community churches and organizations, including the Laurel County Extension Service, began feeding children through the Backpack Club services. The group’s mission is to provide children who live in insecure households with a variety of nutritious, easy-to-prepare, non-perishable food items. Eligible families are referred by Family Resource Center Directors and food is offered at no cost to the families. During the past 15 years, over 415 volunteers have packed, and delivered food to family resource centers each week, logging over 12 hours per week and 432 hours per year in volunteer time. This is a total of 6,480 volunteer hours since the inception of the program.

The Laurel County Extension 4-H agent, volunteers, and teen leaders have spent 1-2 hours per week over the past 13 years (1352 hours) packing food and preparing backpacks for approximately 16,900 low income youth. The agent and volunteers also offered classes to youth Backpack recipients in order to educate them about proper health and nutrition, portion control, MyPlate recipes and making healthy afterschool snacks, using some of the items provided in their backpacks. This year, over 25 students participating in the backpack program, took advantage of the educational programs offered, and all 25 stated that they learned a new skill during the classes. Parents stated that they are hopeful that the youth will have better eating habits in the future, therefore having healthier lives. Several teachers who help with the program have reported an increase in alertness and productivity from some students who receive backpacks of food.