GROVE CITY — The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program might be the only time children are glad to be sent home with something from school.

Many local children from less fortunate families do not receive enough food at home to sufficiently nourish their developing minds and bodies.

The backpack program provides children in the Grove City Area School District grades K-12 with a chance to receive a small bag of food discreetly placed in their backpacks on Fridays during the school year.

“The food is put in a grocery bag, which, in turn, the teachers at the school place in their backpack. It's done very discreetly, ” said Kathy Leonard whose Grove City Chamber of Commerce 2011 Leadership Class originated the project.

Project co-founder Darian Murray of Farmers National Bank in Grove City, said he, Leonard and Abbie Turner-Michael of the Turner Insurance Agency in Harrisville are still involved in the project.

He said, “Clearly, we don't want to see it fail because of how many kids are benefiting from it. We were definitely motivated to keep the program going.”

This year, the project, which began in 2013, is serving 91 students in the district.

“The food is items that it easy for the children to prepare: fruit cups, macaroni and cheese, ravioli,” said Leonard.

Murray said, “A lot of the credit has to go to Dave Knopp, the owner of Sav-A-Lot grocery in Grove City.

“Sav-A-Lot employees volunteer to help get the food bagged and taken to the teachers,” Murray said.

Students are chosen for the program from those who qualify for reduced-price lunches.

Terri Persch, the elementary guidance counselor who serves as the school district liaison for the programs, said, “We send letters home with all the students who qualify for reduced lunches.

“We have 91 involved in the program this school year, ”Persch said. “We send 71 bags to Highland and Hillview schools (grades K-5), 16 to the middle school and four to the high school.”

“The older they get, the less kids want to participate. They get jobs and buy their own food,” Persch said.

The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program is a nonprofit cooperative effort between Grove City Young Professionals and Grove City Area United Way in conjunction with the Grove City Area School District.

Leonard said the future success of the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program depends on the support of local businesses.

The project is currently seeking donated goods and services.

All tax-deductible contributions donated to the project will be featured as part of a “Backpack Benefit” dinner and auction event beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Grove City Country Club, 73 Country Club Road.

Tickets for this event are available by calling 724-458-6410.

Proceeds from the auction of donated items and the event will be used to fund the backpack program.

Leonard said, “Past fundraisers have sustained the program through a few years with the support of organizations and churches. But now it's time to replenish the funds.”

To make a donation, contact Food 4 Kids committee member Leonard at 724-458-5321 or e-mail mkleonard@gcc.edu.

Monetary donations may be sent to the Grove City Area United Way, Attn: “Food 4 Kids” Backpack Program, P.O. Box 388, Grove City, PA 16127.