RINCON — The Rotary Club of Effingham County is loaded with support for Effingham Backpack Buddies.

The club donated food and a check to the program for needy school children during its meeting at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Thursday.

 “We provide food for children who otherwise might go hungry on the weekends,” said Backpack Buddies Director Terri Smith, who served as a guest speaker. 

Smith said one in every six children in Effingham County lives below the poverty level. 

“Recent research suggests that number is higher,” Smith said. “Eighteen percent of children in our community are considered food insecure. They don’t have the food that they need at their homes ...

“Hopefully, that’s where our program helps them.”

Each Thursday morning during the school year, Backpack Buddies volunteers gather at the Effingham County Schools Auxiliary Services building to pack food. Each bag contains milk, a juice, a protein, canned vegetables and fruit, cereal, granola bars or another type of breakfast food and snacks. 

On Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Backpack Buddies provides treat bags for the students.

Effingham Backpack Buddies serves eight schools (Effingham County High School, Effingham County Middle School, South Effingham Middle School, Guyton Elementary School, Rincon Elementary School, Springfield Elementary School, South Effingham Elementary School and Sandhill Elementary School). The other schools are supported by another Backpack Buddies program.

Thirty-nine percent of Effingham County students receive lunch for free or a reduced price at school, Smith said.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Goshen United Methodist Church, Guyton United Methodist Church, The Chapel Effingham and Centerpoint Community Church provide support and/or financial resources to Effingham Backpack Buddies.