Sodexo Foundation donates to BackPack Program

The Education Foundation of Oconee Country was recently selected to receive a $1,000 grant from the Sodexo Foundation, earmarked to support the BackPack Program. Across the United States, one in five children, are at risk of hunger. The Sodexo Foundation works to ensure that every child in the United States, especially those most at-risk, grows up with dependable access to enough nutritious food to enable them to lead a healthy, productive life.  The BackPack program began three years ago within the school district to provide backpacks with child-friendly food for students to take home over the weekends, when they do not have access to free and reduced breakfasts and lunches at school, or evening meals. The BackPack Program is a way to help these students and their families until students return to school on Monday, explains Oconee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas.  “We have some wonderful volunteers that raise funds.  What we are feeding are over 400 kids every weekend.  They take home a self contained pack, it has either juice or milk that doesn’t need refrigeration and food that they can open the containers and eat.” Over 414 students across the district are being served this year through the program. The cost to feed one child is $160. Donations to the BackPack Program are accepted year round, adds Dr. Lucas.  “If they go to our website, they can click on community and they can see the website and donate to activities we do, grant programs for teachers, the BackPack Program and many other activities we do to support additional activities within the school district.” That web address is www.oconee.k12.sc.us.  Donations may also be sent to the Education Foundation of Oconee County, PO Box 608, West Union, SC 29696. Your donations are 100% tax-deductible.