Backpack program provides food for families over the weekend

The Backpack Program continues in its fourth year at Thayer Central. This year it is helping to provide food for 16 area families over the weekend, said Thayer Central Intermediate Principal Kurk Wiedel.

“Some of these students are guaranteed at least one good meal a day while they are at school,” Wiedel said. “But once the weekend is here, there’s no guarantee of that.”

This program helps to ensure that students get proper meals over the weekend.

The program is funded solely by donations and grants, but this year a donation goes a little farther because of a grant obtained by the Hebron Rotary Club. This grant will match donations totaling a little over $1,500.

According to Deb Craig, who helped with obtaining the grant, the Hebron Rotary Club went together with Beatrice and Fairbury to apply for the grant. This gave them a better chance to receive it.

“It’s a good program,” Craig said. “If you look at what the Rotary Club aims to accomplish in the community, this is a good example of it.”

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