Davenport, IA– On October 15th, The Amy Helpenstell Foundation presented River Bend Foodbank with a check for $15,000 to support the Backpack Program. This is the 4th year The Amy Helpenstell Foundation has awarded a grant to River Bend Foodbank.
Tom Laughlin, River Bend Foodbank Executive Director, said, "This is an incredible donation and insures that children will not go hungry on the weekends throughout the school year. We are so thankful for the continued support from The Amy Helpenstell Foundation."
The Backpack Program provides children at risk of hunger with nourishing food to take home on Fridays to get them through the weekend when programs like school breakfasts and lunches are not available. The Backpack Program targets pre-school, elementary and middle school children who are at risk of chronic hunger. These children are identified by name by their school staff. Each child receives a weekly food pack on Fridays to put in their Backpacks and take home for the weekend. The food is child friendly, easily consumed and vitamin fortified. The bags contain about eight items and include two "entrees" like stew or soup, two servings of fruit, cereal, milk, and juice. The Foodbank partners with the schools to select the children and distribute the food. Currently RBFB serves 47 schools and 1,700 of the neediest children in the Quad City Area.
