More hungry kids means more demand on backpack program

One of the packs that will be filled with food every week this fall.

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Story Published: Jul 1, 2009 at 10:15 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 1, 2009 at 10:15 PM PDT

By Stephanie Smith

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LEWISTON - It helps a bunch of children during the school year and now the Idaho Food Bank is looking to expand their backpacks for kids program.

Each weekend, September through May, needy kids are sent home with a backpack filled with enough food to get them through the weekend.

"The problem is, with the economy, the demand has gone up,” said Idaho Food Bank Lewiston Director Chuck Whitman. “I've got about 9 different elementary schools in North Central Idaho that want the program there. We would like to be able to provide it but we are maxed out. It was tough to get through this year. The local schools want more and a lot of families need help."

During the last school year, the food bank filled 340 backpacks for elementary school children and now they hope to expand the program to feed 450 kids.

"They are about seven dollars a backpack for the school year, that's about $108,000 in cash that I've got to raise between now and probably the end of the year."

Some of the money was through United Way, Regence BlueShield and other sponsors. But they still need about $65,000 and need to start ordering food now.

"There's over 68,000 children in Idaho that are experiencing hunger this year," said Whitman "It's tough. With the economy and the loss of jobs and many of the families, unemployment is running out, there is nothing. So they are really becoming more and more reliant on what we are doing for their children."

And 18 of those who benefit from the program are students at the Northwest Children's Home.

"90 percent of the time they sit on the floor, unzip and check out the food," said Jerri Wolke, NW Children's Home Administrative Assistant. "So they are excited, they are happy to get it. It's really a good deal, it's really needed."

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