Hungry Oklahoma Kids Receive Backpacks Full Of Food

Food is the most essential school supply, as studies show, hungry kids have a harder time learning. 

Thursday, September 17th 2015, 6:41 pm

By: News 9


Food is the most essential school supply, as studies show, hungry kids have a harder time learning. But through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Backpack program, kids take home some much needed nutrition to get them through the weekend.

"It's tough making money stretch," said Tiffany Mayes.

Mayes is a single mother to 7-year-old Jace and relies on all the help she can get.

"He has a health condition that cost us a lot of money, we have a lot of appointments, a lot of medications we have to pay for," she said.

With little left for food, she says the Backpack program helps her get through the week.

"This really helps offset that cost and the stress, I don't have to worry about snacks and food, I can just kind of focus on him," Mayes said.

Jace attends Madison Elementary in Norman, one of the many schools across the state that participates in the program.

"Worrying about hunger really should be the last thing any child has to think about," said Sharon Heatly with Norman Public Schools.

Through the program, chronically hunger elementary school kids are given a backpack full of food on Friday to get them through the weekend during the entire school year. The food bags contain approximately 10 different purchased foods designed to provide nutrition and calories for chronically hungry children over the weekend. These are kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods that require no preparation or refrigeration. Children can just "open and eat" without any adult supervision. Last year in Norman alone, 550 kids were in the program.

"Our mission is for students to be successful and to graduate and if they're hungry, that's a major deterrent on their ability to learn," said Heatly.

And Mayes agrees and sees a difference in her son.

"He's really, really excited every week, looking forward to what's in his backpack this week," said Mayes. "It helps his behavior, gives him some motivation and incentive throughout the week and gives us something over the weekend to help him. It's just been great on our family; it's really helped us a lot."

A $200 donation provides a backpack of food for one child for an entire school year. To donate or for more information about the Regional Food Bank's Backpack Program go here: https://www.regionalfoodbank.org/programs/backpack-programs

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