The Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District would like to thank all local donors of the Backpacks for Friday program, an initiative that provides basic food staples to 50 needy families! Ste. Genevieve R-II partners with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank to organize the program, which is funded through donations from community organizations, local businesses and residents. These donations are a vital contribution, as these partnerships assist us in the fight against hunger here in our community.
Funds are raised a year in advance. For the 2021-2022 school year, one backpack is equal to $350. This provides one student with 36 weeks of healthy, nutritious food to take home. This year, 21 backpacks were placed at Bloomsdale Elementary, which has an enrollment of 307 students, and 34 backpacks were placed at Ste. Genevieve Elementary, which has an enrollment of 522 students.
Ste. Genevieve County R-II would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the following donors: American Legion Post 150, Bloomsdale Bank, Basler Funeral Home, Beta Rho, Bloomsdale Excavating, Brockmiller Construction, Citizens Electric, Dairy Queen, Don Heil Oil Company, Equipment Pro Inc, Fallert Bus Service, Farmington Correctional Center, First State Community Bank, Flieg’s Equipment Inc., David & Reba Hogenmiller, LafargeHolcim, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Keim, Kozy Kitchen/Dew Drop Inn, L.J. Hart & Company, L’Hoist North America, Lions Club, Ms. Donna Marler, MidWest Marketing, MRV Bank, Plaza Tire Service, Presbyterian Women, R & K Excavation, Rotary Club of Ste. Genevieve, Rick & Carol Rudloff, Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital - Medical Staff, Richard & Teresa Slough, Ms. Emily Smith, S T Gear & Machine, LLC, Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge, Ste. Genevieve Jaycees, Ste. Genevieve NEA, Ste. Genevieve Vision Care, Tower Rock Stone, and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve.
We would like to share a special thanks to: the counselors, Mrs. Jesika Greminger and Mrs. Amy Rowland, who help to determine the number of backpacks needed at their buildings and who help coordinate the program; the students in the STARS program, as well as Mr. Jon Robinson, Mrs. Debbie Baker, and Mrs. Joann Grein, who help organize and transport the monthly shipments; and our Maintenance Department who help to coordinate delivery.
We all know that when our students’ basic needs are met, they can focus on learning and growing into strong, productive, healthier citizens. If individuals, organizations or businesses would like to make a donation to the program, please make your tax deductible donation payable to “Ste. Genevieve School District R-II Foundation” with “Backpacks for Friday Program” noted on the memo line. Contributions can be mailed to:
Ste. Genevieve R-II School District
Attn: Paul Taylor, Asst. Supt.
375 N. 5th Street
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670