Local Students Receive 'Blessings In A Backpack'

WILKINSBURG (KDKA) - A group of local students will take their backpacks home full of food on Friday and bring them back empty Monday morning.

Johnston Elementary reflects a community hit hard by the recession. Each student receives federally funded lunches, but what happens on the weekends?

Linda Lafferty and other volunteers load backpacks for kids to take home each Friday. They are the first Pennsylvania school to take part in a nationwide effort called "Blessings in a Backpack."

"The teachers send four or five students down to pick up the backpacks and take them up to their room," Lafferty said.

The former teacher has collected enough donations to fill backpacks for the rest of this school year.

"If 220 people opened their checkbooks and write a check for $80, I'd have enough money for the 2011-12 school year," Lafferty said.

After the last bus leaves on Thursday, volunteers get down to work. For Erika Davis, it's a chance to give back to a program that benefits her family.

"They gave it the right name...'Blessings in a Backpack,' because there have been times where I'm really scuffling to make sure my kids eat, and I won't eat," Davis said.

Jordan Mason and his sister, Jayla, are grateful for the work of volunteers.

"People take their time to do things for us, and you have to appreciate it," Jayla Mason said.

If you would like to donate to the program you can do so by mailing a check to the following address:

Blessings in a Backpack
P.O. Box 14296
Plum, PA 15239