CARTHAGE, MO.--- Pleasant Valley Elementary Teacher, Amy Collier, and a parent buy food to stock the "Snack Box" in her classroom, to make sure her students aren't going hungry.
Another way they help prevent hunger is through the Backpack Program, sending weekend meals home with nearly 150 kids.
"Right now, unfortunately we have some students that would benefit from the Backpack Program but we're not able to at this time," says Scott Ragsdale, Pleasant Valley Elementary.
Resources are limited. There are about 30 elementary and 60 middle school kids whose needs can't be met consistently.
"We only have a finite funding source for helping meet those needs. We do the best with the funds we have received," says Ragsdale.
So they look to donations to support the program, as well as other ways to make sure students don't worry about hunger.
"I personally look around the school district at students who are in need," says Ragsdale.
That includes handing out food baskets filled with food for the holidays. It is work, but Collier says it's a labor of love, being a teacher means more to her than just helping with academics.
"You just meet the needs that they have, whether it's filling a backpack full of food or finding a pair of shoes that they're going to need," says Collier.
If you would like to help the Carthage School District meet the weekend food backpack need, contact the Carthage Bright Futures Program.
