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QUINCY, ILL. -- Students are guaranteed one meal per day through the school week, but that's not always the case on weekends.

So, one Quincy couple felt the need to help.

Last fall, Rachel Hansen and her husband Jim brought Blessings in a Backpack to Madison School.

There are about one hundred students in this program who each receive a backpack filled with food.

Without it, some students might not have enough food at home to get through the weekend.

This is a blessing to more than just the students who receive the food.

Every Friday... one classroom at Madison Elementary School helps their fellow classmates.

"When families are struggling, it carries over into children being able to come to school and being able to learn. Worrying about if they get a math worksheet done is probably not a high priority on their plate if they're coming to us and they're hungry," said Principal Kelle Bunch

Each backpack contains things that are easy to pack and easy to make. This week...a canned good, a juice box, Pop Tarts and oatmeal, Ramen Noodles, and a box of raisins.

"It's also a blessing for our kids who are packing the backpacks to see that you can reach out, you can help other people. It takes 10 minutes out of your day to help other people. The benefit is immeasurable," said Hansen.

"Children need to understand not only about academics here in school, they also need to learn how to give back to their community and be good citizens. We're trying to help raise good human beings, and I think it's all part of that," said Bunch

Which also leads to an acceptance for students who need help.

"As opposed to a stigma attached to it, what we've seen is kids who don't get the backpack asking us when they can have a backpack to take home. We've had nothing but positive responses," said Hansen.

"They're glad. They're glad to get them. If they forget to bring the backpack back on Monday, they try to bring them back Tuesday or Wednesday because they want to receive it on Friday," said Bunch.

"Maybe the perception within the school district is that there wouldn't be that sort of need at Madison but it did come to my attention that there are some kids who maybe could use some extra help at home. Particularly on the weekends with a little extra food. Times are tough for everybody right now," said Hansen.

The Hansens hope to expand the program to other schools and eventually throughout the whole school district.

You can help donate money to the program by calling the Madison School main office number at (217) 223-6096.

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Blessings in a Backpack is making a difference in the lives of children across the nation.  They say that the difference in academics, school attendance, behavior and health between a well-nourished child and a hungry child is profound.

Blessings in a Backpack is designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federally funded Free/Reduced Price Meal program and have little or no food on the weekends.

The idea for this program came from Stan Curtis and Missy Hammerstrom in 2004 and took off in July of 2005 nationally.  Even Sammy Hagar has adopted 10 schools in St. Louis, Mo.

Madison School in Quincy brought the program to their families.