Without the donation of weekend food bags from area churches and other organizations, several homeless students in Rutherford County Schools would go hungry between Friday evening and Monday morning.
“It is amazing to think we have hungry children in Rutherford County schools, but unfortunately it is a reality,” said Kim Snell, ATLAS liaison for the school district. “Our program is able to provide school supplies, books, clothes and hygiene items for these children, but we must have outside resources to take care of food needs. We are so thankful that we have caring people in the churches and organizations who are willing to meet these needs.”
ATLAS is the homeless education program for Rutherford County Schools. RCS has identified more than 750 students so far this school year who meet the definition for homelessness, according to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. There were 1,267 ATLAS students at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. These students receive breakfast and lunch at their schools during the week, but many have little food on the weekends.
David Bess, the ATLAS contact at Riverdale High School, says the students who receive weekend food bags from North Boulevard West Church of Christ eat everything the church sends. Riverdale High School is one of 37 schools in Rutherford County that receives weekend food bags from a church or organization.
There are currently 25 churches and organizations providing weekend food bags that go home each Friday with these children. The contacts at each school distribute the food in the prepared gallon-size zip lock bags that go into the students’ backpacks. Each bag contains shelf stable food to help feed these students on Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information about the Rutherford County Schools ATLAS program, contact program coordinator Kim Snell at 615-893-5815 ext. 22225 or snellk@rcschools.net.
