GROVE CITY — The Food for Kids backpack project is growing.

The project gives needy students in the Grove City School District from kindergarten to fifth grade supplemental food to help get them through the weekend. Teachers discretely place a small bag of food into the student’s backpacks on Fridays during the school year.

“As long as the need is there, we want to be able to help these children,” said backpack committee member Darian Murray.

The project is a nonprofit cooperative effort between the Grove City Young Professionals and the Grove City United Way, in conjunction with the Grove City School District.

It began in 2011 as a project of the Grove City Chamber of Commerce’s leadership class, which Murray participated in.

He said people in the class wanted the program to be independent and continue after the class ended.

“That was our goal,” Murray said.

During the 2012-13 year, about 15 students regularly participated in the program.

About 45 students are benefiting from the program this year.

At the beginning of the year, the district sent a letter home with students who qualified for free and reduced lunches to let them know about the program.

“It’s completely voluntary,” Murray said. “We want people to know that it is there.”

Murray said some families that were going through hard times used the program and then stopped as their situations improved.

He said about 500 students are projected to qualify for assistance in 2014-15.

The Save A Lot store in Grove City puts the bags together.

“That is a huge help,” Murray said.

A volunteer picks the bags up and drops them off at the schools, and teachers distribute them.

Last week, the committee held its second annual benefit. He said that about 120 people came to the event. Murray said the committee always is looking for donations and volunteers.

To help support the program or for more information, send an e-mail to gcfoodforkids@yahoo.com or call the chamber at 724-458-6410.