Home Local News Backpack Pals of Richmond County awarded $2,500 grant from CSX

Backpack Pals of Richmond County awarded $2,500 grant from CSX

HAMLET — Wondering where your next meal is coming from is not a concern a child should have and if the BackPack Pals of Richmond County continue to have funding, no local school-age children will have that concern.  

CSX Corporation recently made a donation of $2,500 to the  program.  

According to its website, CSX Community Service Grants “assist organizations that make a strong, quantifiable impact on their greater communities.”

 Backpack Pals certainly fits that description.

The program does not receive any federal or state grants to operate, nor is there any paid staff.  Relying on volunteers, community grants and donations to fund its mission, Backpack Pals is also a partnering agency with the United Way of Richmond County. All monies raised go directly to providing food for children. 

“To have CSX step up and become a partner to our organization is an incredible blessing to us,” said Kim Lindsey, public relations director of Backpack Pals. “This grant certainly exceeded our expectations. Community partnership makes our program possible.”

“Backpack Pals for Richmond County provides nutritional weekend meals and snacks to children whose primary source of food is the school cafeteria,” according to its mission statement. ”With this program, we hope to reach children throughout the community and establish an effective outreach program to enrich the lives of those in need.” 

Backpack Pals is a nationally recognized program which meets the needs of the children, identified by the school staff, who have little to eat over the weekend. Backpacks containing nutritious, individual-sized servings of breakfast and lunch items are sent home with children on Fridays and returned on Mondays.

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In Richmond County, approximately 70 % of the children eating meals in school cafeterias are part of the free or reduced breakfast and lunch program. During the school year 2018-19, 610 students were fed through the program each weekend. 

Making a difference is what the BackPack Pals of Richmond County strives to do each weekend during the school year.

For more information about the program, or to make a donation, contact Kim Lindsey at 910-331-4196 or visit the website at www.BackpackPalsRC.com.

 



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