STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve School District R-II has announced two local organizations, the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge and Ste. Genevieve Rotary, have made generous donations to the Backpacks for Friday program at Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District
Doots Flieg, John Otte and Makenzie Beckham of the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge present a check to Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard.
Jami Drury with the Rotary Club of Ste. Genevieve presents a check to Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard.
The Backpacks for Friday program is an initiative that provides basic food staples to 50 needy families.
The school district partners with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank to organize the program, which is funded through donations from community organizations, local businesses and residents. These donations are a vital contribution, as these partnerships assist us in the fight against hunger here in our community.
Funds are raised a year in advance.
For the 2022-2023 school year, one backpack is equal to $350. This provides one student with 36 weeks of healthy, nutritious food to take home. This year, 21 backpacks were placed at Bloomsdale Elementary, which has an enrollment of 301 students, and 34 backpacks were placed at Ste. Genevieve Elementary, which has an enrollment of 526 students.
Ste. Genevieve County R-II would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the following donors for their recent contributions for next year’s 2023-2024 backpacks: American Legion Post 150, Basler Funeral Home, Bloomsdale Bank, Bloomsdale Excavating, Brockmiller Construction, Inc., CE Contracting, Inc., Citizens Electric, Equipment Pro Inc, Fallert Bus Service, Flieg’s Equipment Inc., L.J. Hart & Company, Mr. & Mrs. Bobby & Rebecca Latempt, Mississippi Lime, MRV Bank, R&K Excavation, Inc., River Hills Thunderin’ Longbeards, Rotary Club of Ste. Genevieve, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Rudloff & Carol Steiger, Mr. Richard & Mrs. Teresa Slough, Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital – Medical Staff, Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge 2674, the University of Missouri Extension Council, Ste. Genevieve Vision Care, the Weingarten Jaycees, and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve.
The district pointed out that when the students’ basic needs are met, they can focus on learning and growing into strong, productive, healthier citizens.
If individuals, organizations or businesses would like to make a donation to the program, please make your tax deductible donation payable to “Ste. Genevieve School District County R-II Foundation” with “Backpacks for Friday Program” noted on the memo line.
Contributions can be mailed to:
Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District
Attn: Lance McClard, Asst. Supt.
375 N. 5th Street
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670