Food for Thought annual fundraiser

News

Thursday, 11 July 2024 12:07

School will be starting next month. Scottsboro and Jackson County food backpack programs will be providing food for their most food insecure children.

One in four children face food insecurity in Jackson County. Seven years ago, Representative Tommy Hanes convened a group of community and school representatives to form a county-wide coalition of food backpack programs called Food for Thought. The purpose was to raise funds to support all the programs. Community partners include the Jackson County Legislative Delegation with the support of State Senator Steve Livingston and State Representative Mike Kirkland, the Impact Learning Center, and the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

With the rising cost of food and the rising number of children needing food, the need for funds has greatly increased. All of the school coordinators have reported they saw a significant increase in the number of children served during the 2023-2024 school year. A typical bag of food that goes home with the child costs $8.00 to $10.00. Serving the increasing number of children is not possible without the help of the community.

There are several ways you can help. The Bruce’s Foodland stores located in Scottsboro, Stevenson and Section are collecting donations at the register during the entire month of July.

Also, the First Southern State Bank locations in Stevenson, Scottsboro and Higdon will be collecting donations in the lobby and drive-thru windows from now through July 31st.

Last year over 1,000 children benefited from the funds raised. Every school in Jackson County Schools and Scottsboro City schools is served by a backpack program.

Donations can also be mailed to the Jackson County Legislative Office, 100 E. Peachtree Street, Scottsboro, Alabama 35768. Please make checks payable to Nourish One Child and designate Food for Thought in the memo.

You may designate your donation for a particular school or backpack program if you choose to do so. Donations not designated will be used throughout Scottsboro and Jackson County.
Donations can also be made online at http://www.nourishonechild.com.

All donations are tax deductible. For additional information contact the Jackson County Legislative Office at 256-218-3090.