Operation Backpack is in its sixth year of helping feed children in the Warren County R-III School District.Marilyn Carter is a co-director with Cheryl Porpillo.“We like to say we’re two moms that like to feed the kids,” said Carter.A few times a week the ladies, along with a volunteer, load lunch bags with about $7 worth of food. There’s macaroni and cheese, canned pasta, soup, fruit, breakfast foods, snacks and drinks.“We always feel like the kids need snacks. We try to make sure it’s healthy and kid friendly, something they can make for themselves,” Carter said.“When you see what’s in there, it doesn’t look like much, but it’s something,” Carter said. “It’s food the children can have on the weekend.”More children are getting help from Operation Backpack than when it was started.“We have 186 children who we’re packing for right now,” said Carter. “It’s grown. When we started there were 32. I think it’s (grown) because more people need it.”Students receiving help from Operation Backpack live in food insecure homes. Most of their meals come from school meal programs. Without Operation Backback, some students would go the weekend without enough to eat.The program exists on donations from businesses, organizations and private donors.“When we first started, we went around talking to people, asking for money. Now people are sending it to us. They know we need the help,” Carter said.She added that donations are handled by the district’s WISE Foundation.“They take care of the money for us. We don’t handle the money at all,” she said.The group works with the five schools in the Warrenton School District. The volunteers shop for food at pantries and local grocery stores.“After we get the bags packed, we take them to the schools. The schools identify the students. The counselors put them in the kids’ backpacks. We don’t know who the kids are,” Carter said.Students are in the program based on need.“Children may not be on it the whole year. There are different reasons parents couldn’t provide for them,” Carter said. “We try to make sure the kids are fed. It’s always surprising how many kids don’t get fed.”

Pictured are firefighters and volunteers with Operation Backpack. The group helps provide food to students in the Warren County R-III School District whose families are food insecure. Firefighters with the Warren County Fire Protection District often help Operation Backpack volunteers fulfill their mission by moving heavy stock where it’s needed. 

Submitted photo