Joplin Schools SnackPack program receives $10,000 donation - KOAM TV 7

Joplin Schools SnackPack program receives $10,000 donation

Joplin Schools Foundation's SnackPack program is getting some help thanks to Mercy Hospital staff.

A $10,000 grant was presented today as part of Mercy's Feed the Need campaign.  Mercy doctors and co-workers raised $108,000 to help area food pantries in and around the Ozarks.

The Snack Pack backpack program helps hundreds of students from preschool through 5th grade living in homes struggling to provide enough food.

Thanks to the program those kids are sent home with a backpack full of healthy snack foods on the weekends.

"Unfortunately not everyone has the basic luxuries of life and especially at Christmastime and with children, we want to make sure that they have as good a Christmas and a holiday season as possible," says Dr. Sean Smith, Clinic President for Mercy Clinics.

This donation will pay for about 10% of the cost to run the program.