Program provides healthy weekend snacks to kids from low income families
QUINCY, ILL. -- On Friday, Adams Elementary School in Quincy kicked off its Blessings in a Backpack program.
Students who get free or reduced lunches will now get a bag containing basic healthy food snacks to tide them over through the weekend.
The Quincy Rotary Club wrote a grant of 24 thousand dollars to keep the program going for at least three years.
The Rotarians also helped distribute the bags to the kids.
Principal Marcy Wells hopes her students will learn about responsibility and community service from their example.
"They're taking time out of their work schedules to come help us pack the backpacks, delivering the food, packing the food and just finding the funds. So we want them to know that hopefully when they grow up and become a part of our community, they'll continue such efforts to help those that are in need," Principal Wells said.
Blessings in a Backpack is a national program that was started in 2005 and has spread to schools across the country.
The Rotary club will continue fund-raising efforts so the program can continue beyond the initial three years.
The kids received their snacks in paper bags on Friday, but the actual backpacks should be in by next week.
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