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When we talked to Westport Assistant Principal Alex Ross about the impact of the Weekend Backpack Program at her school, she first referred to kids not as “students,” but as “our babies.” For her and the staff at Westport K-8, the Weekend Backpack Program is more than just bags they hand out on Fridays — it means their babies are taken care of.

“I’m just a mom with a job,” said Assistant Principal Ross, “and I handle my business as a mom first because somebody entrusted me with you. We have to make sure your needs are met. … Our kids come to school oftentimes with needs that have to be met before we can tackle learning.”

Those needs include feeling safe, encouraged and having plenty of nutritious food, which the educators at Westport work hard to provide Monday through Friday — but when children go home for the weekend, many aren’t sure they’ll have enough to eat before they return to school on Monday. Those days without food leave an impact that teachers are often the first to spot.

“When kids come back to school on Monday, you can tell if they’ve had a bad weekend,” said Dr. Terry Mitchell, Westport’s school community liaison. He works closely with Assistant Principal Ross to get to know families and use that feedback to develop resources. As former teachers themselves, Dr. Mitchell and Assistant Principal Ross know the signs that a child is hungry: They eat first and play later; they have trouble focusing; they ask for two breakfasts on Monday morning. Without enough food on the weekends, kids struggle to learn and just be kids.

That’s where Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program comes in. The Weekend Backpack Program sends children home with a bag of nutritious, kid-friendly meals and snacks every weekend of the school year. Ozarks Food Harvest provides the food bags at no charge, and schools distribute them to students on Friday afternoons. Where teachers are often the first to notice the effects of hunger, they’re also keen to notice the impact of the Weekend Backpack Program.

The first place educators see the impact is in the children who take home a weekend food bag. With these meals and snacks at home, kids are more ready for school on Mondays. They have more energy, they’re less distracted, and they feel a sense of security that lets them focus on learning.

“I think the kids are grateful,” Assistant Principal Ross shared. “[With the Weekend Backpack Program], I think they feel supported at school. It’s a step to safety and comfort.”

That feeling of support extends to students’ families as well, who work hard to provide for their children. The Weekend Backpack Program shows families that schools and the community are in their corner when times are tough. Assistant Principal Ross and Dr. Mitchell explained that more and more families have felt comfortable sharing when grocery costs are a stressor, and Westport can then offer the weekend food bags as a resource.

The final place where Westport staff notice an impact is among themselves. Educators want their students to have the tools for success, but they worry about students when they leave for the weekend. As Assistant Principal Ross explained, “The Weekend Backpack Program, as a staff member, makes me feel like I can breathe a little bit better knowing that our babies have something to go home with and nourish their baby bodies over the weekend.”

Westport is one of 62 schools in southwest Missouri who utilize the Weekend Backpack Program. Across all these schools, the program provides a food bag for nearly 1,800 children each week. You can help support the Weekend Backpack Program by donating, volunteering and spreading the word. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org/backpack.