Grayson County Alliance (GCA) is sponsoring an online fundraising effort to support the BackPack Food Program.
Between July 19 through 23, GCA is partnering with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH), in a week-long concerted fundraising effort to raise money for children on the BackPack Food Program.
For food insecure children on the BackPack Food Program, bags of 12 to 14 easy-to-prepare food items are placed discreetly in their backpacks during the school year.
“Nearly one in five children in our service area face hunger,” said Jamie Sizemore, FAKH executive director. “That’s why it’s so important to support the BackPack Program, which provides food for these kids to hold them over on the weekend when they aren’t receiving breakfast and lunch at school.”
“Historically, GCA has supported 300 to 400 students each school year with BackPack Food and even with all the challenges of 2020 we were able to provide this vital assistance to 303 children in Grayson County,” said GCA Executive Director, Debbie Childress.
FAKH has made it possible through a partnership with Kroger’s Zero Hunger / Zero Waste Foundation to match each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 for the week of July 19-23. In addition, Jack Henry & Associates have provided $1,500 to be used as prize money which will be awarded to the top five fundraising counties; the county with the highest number of unique donors; and the most creative county, as determined by FAKH staff and based on promotion efforts.
“GCA is working hard to leverage the benefits of the matching funds and prize money during this special week,” Childress said.
You can follow the online fundraiser at feedingamericaky.fenly.org/drives/ select the Grayson County BackPack Program.
The fundraiser begins Monday, July 19 at 8:00 a.m. and lasts Friday, July 23 at 5:00 p.m.
“Any donation will make a difference in the lives of these kiddos,” Sizemore said. “You’ll not only be filling their bellies, but also their minds because it’s so hard to learn on an empty stomach.”
(Photo: BackPack Food Program spokesperson Lincoln Flores)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
