The Got Your Backpack program is working to combat the effects of homelessness in the Rockwood School District.

The program’s aim is to send deserving children home for the weekend with a backpack full of about $20’s worth of nutritious food. The students take the backpack home on Friday and return it on Monday.

Maureen Smith, first grade teacher at Fairway Elementary, came up with the idea from a school district in Kansas.

“I got this idea from a school district in Kansas City- Park Hill that started this program years ago and it has grown into a huge community supported system,” Smith said.

Smith then talked with Terry Harris, coordinator with the Department of Educational Equality and Diversity, about instituting the program in Rockwood.

“We talked about homeless kids in Rockwood and how to best serve their food needs,” Smith said.

Harris said the program was started officially in the district in January, following its unofficial start at Fairway in August.

The program has had a slow start, Smith said, but a recent food drive held for the program at Fairway raised more than 1,800 items.

“I feel tremendously happy about the support from my administration and parents/community members on this program and the success of our food drive to support this program,” Smith said.

Homelessness takes a toll on school-age children, according to a report for the Family Housing Fund. Due to stressful events associated with being homeless, children between the ages of 6 and 17 have higher rates of mental disorders compared with their peers. Homeless children are also four times more likely than other children to score at or below the tenth percentile in vocabulary and reading.

“We know that this is one small piece of the puzzle in helping our Rockwood families in their time of need, but I have heard that the families who are receiving this food are very appreciative and the students continually ask the counselors/school nurses who give them the backpacks  if they can get this food every week,” Smith said.

Harris also acknowledged the toll being homeless can take on a student.

“Homelessness and hunger is often a physiological hindrance to one’s ability to access all of their intellect due to worrying about a place to stay or their next meal,” Harris said. “In short, it is extremely challenging to learn when you don’t know where you are going to sleep or are worried about your next meal.”

The Got Your Backpack Program is looking to collect nutritious and easy to prepare food such as bread, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly and fruit.

There is no set stopping date for this project, and students can donate by dropping food at the Administrative Annex in Eureka or by giving the food to school counselors.

Smith said she decided to bring this program to Rockwood because of the need in our own backyard.

“I don’t want any child in Rockwood to worry or be concerned about getting food on the weekends,” Smith said.