Special Report: The Faces of Hunger

LAFAYETTE - With food prices rising and the economy slumping, more American families are struggling to put food on the table. And it's a situation many families in the Lafayette area are facing.

Food Finders Food Bank Executive Director Katy Bunder said more than 5,000 children in Tippecanoe County are living in poverty. "And with the recent slowdown in the economy, that number continues to rise," said Bunder.

Two organizations in Lafayette are working together to make sure children don't leave school empty-handed.

Before school lets out on Friday, some children at Miami Elementary file into the cafeteria to pick up an extra backpack.  Volunteers with the Lafayette Noon Rotary pack the bags with food the night before, then help distribute them to the children. "We work with the leadership of the school to determine who it would benefit," said Jayne Feathers, the Rotary's backpack committee chairperson. Feathers said each backpack has a tag with a child's name and the initial of their last name. Although the volunteers don't know each child's circumstance, they know there is a need. "We know these families are at risk for not enough food or any food at home on weekends."

Inside the backpack is all sorts of food, including a coupon for a free gallon of milk, mashed potatoes, vegetables like green beans, and even some oatmeal. The Rotary puts in about 10 pounds each week for the children. The Rotary purchases the food from Food Finders Food Bank. "The food in each backpack costs about $5," said Bunder. "The food goes home each week with one extra bag being added for the winter holiday break." The Rotary raises funds for the program through the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament.

Miami Counselor Debbie Gutwein said the children are not embarrassed, but happy to help their families. "So many parents call and thank us," said Gutwein.

Marty and Misty Weikel have nine children. Five of them attend Miami Elementary School. "It has definitely saved us a lot of money on groceries. We get a lot of vegetables and milk that I don't have to buy," said Marty Weikel.   "I work for a temporary agency for Caterpillar. I make good money, but with as many people as we got, it's tough."

The  Weikels' Friday after-school routine includes picking up all five children and loading their backpacks into the back of the van. "As soon as they get out to the van, they open up their backpacks," said Misty Weikel. "They get some of the food and snacks out. They really look forward to that."

Feathers said families go in cycles. "Life goes in cycles. This is a time we can step forward and help." She said  the backpack program targets elementary school children because this is a critical period for growth and development. Educators say the program is important. "Because when children are hungry, they aren't ready to learn," said Gutwein.

There are more than 750 students in Tippecanoe, Howard and Cass Counties in the backpack program. "The Lafayette schools involved are Vinton, Miller, Miami, Murdock, Glen Acres and Mayflower," said Bunder. "We expect to add 130 children next semester."

The best way to help with the backpack program is to encourage a group that  you belong to sponsor a school or donate money. Also, you can drop off food items during Community Harvest. Drop off locations include all Industrial Federal Credit Union branches, Wal-Mart and Lafayette fire stations, as well as city halls in Lafayette, West Lafayette, Delphi, Monticello and Frankfort.

"All food banks are now facing across-the-board shortages, due to greater efficiencies in inventory management within our corporate suppliers," said Bunder. "While Food Finders has obtained sufficient funding to purchase food for this program under its current scope, our greatest need will be acquiring additional funding and volunteer labor to serve additional schools. Recent shortages in cereal and peanut butter have required some adjustments to the menu."