To meet the needs of children who return to school hungry and unable to focus on Monday mornings, Foodlink began running the Backpack program about five years ago after teachers brought the situation to the organization’s attention. Last year, the program distributed 600 bags — filled with nutritious snacks — every Friday afternoon to students in 14 schools in Monroe, Seneca, Ontario, Yates and Wayne counties. This year, the program will serve an estimated 1,500 children, with the need estimated to be 15,000 children — 9,000 of those living in Rochester, according to Foodlink officials.
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