3 days ago
Quadrupled Need: East Alabama Food Bank fights soaring child hunger
AUBURN, Ala. () — Every Friday during the school year, nearly 850 East Alabama elementary school students head home with more than just books in their backpacks. Thanks to the East Alabama Food Bank's Backpack Program, they carry six weekend meals—two breakfasts, two lunches, and two snacks—to help them through until Monday.
'We serve 14 different schools in the area—I think the final number at the end of the year was 845—which is a very bittersweet number,' said Neeley Chapman, Programs Coordinator and Administrative Assistant with the East Alabama Food Bank. 'The number was about 250 to 300 just a few years ago. In the course of about two to four years, it's quadrupled.'
The backpack program aims to ensure children who rely on school meals during the week don't go hungry over the weekend. The food is kid-friendly and easy to prepare, including staples like mac & cheese and Chef Boyardee. During holidays, the bags are dressed up with themed treats—Valentine's candy or Christmas goodies—to offer a little joy along with nourishment.
'These bags go out every Friday, starting after Labor Day and continuing through the end of the school year,' Chapman said. 'We know they get breakfast and lunch at school, but we don't know what their weekends look like.'
Chapman's concerns reflect a broader national trend. In 2024, Feeding America reported that more than 12 million children in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households. That's about 1 in 5 school-aged kids—many of them struggling quietly in classrooms across the country. Studies consistently show that hunger impairs academic performance, focus, and emotional well-being.
'A child who has the opportunity to eat performs better than a hungry child,' Chapman emphasized. 'They're not thinking about the test they're taking. They're just thinking, 'Where's my next meal gonna come from? I just want a snack.''
At the start of each school year, the food bank works with teachers and counselors, equipping them with a checklist to discreetly identify students who may be food insecure. Chapman said younger children often show clear signs—saving food, asking for extras—but as students get older, hunger becomes harder to detect.
'When the kids get older, pride becomes a factor,' she said. 'But one in five children are going to bed with hungry tummies, and that breaks my heart.'
The Backpack Program is sustained by a mix of federal, state, and local funding, including support from TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). In addition, churches, community organizations, families, and individual donorsplay a critical role in ensuring the program can continue to meet growing demand.
'Financially is the best way to help because this is a purchase program—foods need to be uniform for each bag—but we also love volunteers,' Chapman said. 'Just say, 'Hey, we have a group that wants to come in and pack these bags.' We have church groups, small groups, Rotarians. They give me two hours and we just party—and it's so worthwhile because we know the next person that touches it is gonna be hungry.'
To learn more or sign up to volunteer, visit their website.
'I'm so lucky that I've never had to question where my next meal is coming from,' Chapman added. 'My heart goes out to every single person who's ever been in that situation. This program is our way of doing something about it.'
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