By: Katelyn McCarson
As many begin thinking of friends and family, presents, celebrations, and cheer, it’s easy to forget that many others are in very hard places, even during the holiday season.
Families and students all across Transylvania County are going without adequate nutrition — more than 58% of children enrolled in Transylvania County Schools qualify for free or reduced lunch programs, while 29% of children in the county battle food insecurity, 21% of which do not qualify for any federal nutrition programs.
The Back Pack Buddies program is coming to Brevard High this Friday, December 9, to assemble and provide food packs to over 325 students in the weeks leading up to the highly anticipated and rapidly-approaching winter break.
If you’d like to come contribute to an organization that works to feed students struggling with financial and nutritional needs, volunteers will be assembling food packs in the BHS cafeteria from 3:15 until they are finished. Volunteers showing up between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. would be much appreciated.
Efforts from anyone and everyone who would like to be involved would be very helpful — over 100 students would not be provided the food they need without the efforts of local volunteers and organizations involved.
Those who are unable to attend, but would like to help fund and support Back Pack Buddies may also give in other ways — further information, sponsorship forms, and a link to donate directly to the program online are available on the Transylvania County Back Pack Buddies webpage, http://www.tcsnc.org/Page/1801.
The Back Pack Buddies program is working actively with the support of Manna Food Bank, Change the World Relief Organization, local churches, and many volunteers to provide food to these families in need during times when school-provided meals are unavailable.
So come out and spread holiday cheer this year by giving hundreds of students and families around the county a merrier Christmas and a happier New Year.