The brisk air marks the end of winter break, as students across the county are returning to their classrooms to begin a new semester and settle into a new routine. However, for students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch programs at schools across Baldwin County, the return to school may also mark the return of guaranteed daily meals.

According to Chasity Riddick, Baldwin County Public Schools communications coordinator, approximately 60% of students in Baldwin County receive free or reduced lunches at school daily.

Riddick also said that in order to qualify for free or reduced lunch fees, parents must apply to the school's program through an online application and students are granted free or reduced lunch through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.
According to the official application, students are eligible based on their household size and income.

Additionally, the application states that all qualifying students must be enrolled in the state's food stamp program (SNAP), food distribution program, Indian Reservations program (FDPIR), or Alabama Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant program and receive benefits from Medicaid.

Foster children, children participating in the Head Start program, children who are homeless, runaways or migrants and children who are directly certified are also eligible to receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast at school.

However, this also begs the question; how do these students receive meals when school is not in session, on break or over the weekends?

Riddick said that while the school system does not currently have a program in place to rectify this, there are local programs that provide children with meals during breaks from school.

Perhaps the most prominent local program is The Backpack Program, a branch of the Feeding the Gulf Coast organization. According to Rebekah Dawson, director of child nutrition programs, said that the organization currently services students along the coast in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Of the 9,000 students served in Alabama, Dawson said over 700 of them are in Baldwin County.

"This program is sponsored by organizations across our communities such as churches, businesses and even individuals," Dawson said. "We have many partners through our backpack program in Baldwin County, if a family needs weekend meals, we encourage them to reach out to the guidance counselor at their child's school. If there isn't a program at their school, we are happy to reach out and see if we can begin service with them.

According to Dawson, the organization works closely with each school's guidance counselor to discreetly deliver meals for students when needed.

"Teachers and school counselors identify students who would benefit from the Backpack Program., and then the food bank is given the number of children in need at the school.," Dawson said. "The children's identities remain anonymous to the food bank, donors and their peers. With the help of volunteers, the food bank prepares the bags of food, which are placed discreetly in children's backpacks on Friday afternoons for them to take home over the weekend."

Dawson said the program began in 1995, when a school nurse in Arkansas noticed children were leaving school on Friday and returning to school much differently than when they left.

"The students were irritable, couldn't focus and counting down the minutes to lunchtime," Dawson said. "The school nurse contacted a local food bank and that is where the program was born. Now the program is nationwide and you can find it across more than 160 Feeding America food banks."

As for her favorite part of the program, Dawson said it is a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many students across the south.

"The backpack program has always been a favorite of mine, and this program truly takes a village," Dawson said. "It is the generosity of our donors, and the passion of our volunteers and the team that makes it all possible. Many students rely on and even look forward to their bags each week, and this program truly does make a difference."

For more information on the program, or becoming a Backpack Program sponsor visit www.feedingthegulfcoast.com or call (251) 653-1617.