Research conducted by Feeding America shows Kentucky's food insecurity rate is more than 20%. Children are particularly susceptible to the negative impact of food security as their brains and bodies are still developing. Children with food insecurity often experience health and behavioral issues.

Many school age children receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. For many, these may be the only meals they eat for the day. Having enough food on the weekend is a problem for many.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program Assistant in Anderson County was able to help with this problem by assisting with the distribution of Backpack Buddies in partnership with school programming.

Backpack Buddies provides non-perishable, easy to prepare food to children to ensure they have enough to eat on the weekend. Volunteers meet weekly to prepare the bags with breakfast food, fruit, vegetables and a family type meal like Hamburger Helper. The bags are then delivered to the school and sent home with the students.

In Anderson County Backpack Buddies supplies approximately 230 bags per week. Students in six schools were able to participate in this program. This program won’t fix the problem, but goes a long way in taking care of those in need.