June 23, 2011 - Currently, 60% of the City of Leonard's school age children in the elementary alone are on free or reduced lunch, district wide is at 57%. Many of the children only receive food at the school. This poses a problem for the weekend where many do not receive adequate food during this time.

The wonderful teachers in Leonard recognize those that need extra assistance. They have been known to give those children food for bus rides home because they understand that some will not eat until they return back to school.

The community, businesses, churches and individuals can join together to help these children. This can be done by donating food items to be placed in backpacks by school-aged volunteers (to give them ownership in community service), to hand out on Fridays to children that need food over the weekend. The children can then return the backpacks on Monday. The drop zones for non-perishable foods will be at the B&B grocery store and the Leonard Pharmacy. The food items will be picked up on Wednesday evening and brought to the school for stuffing backpacks.

Please help by acting together as a community to help each other when there is a need. These children are the future for the City of Leonard; help them so they will, in turn, help others. Please contact Staci Morris at 469-396-7414 for more information.