Potosi Elks #2218 Back Pack Program Underway - Serving Local Students

The Potosi Elks Lodge #2218 along with several community volunteers are delivering food items to children in need throughout Washington County. The Back Pack Program is currently delivering food ‘packs’ for over 300 County children. Items can be donated at local banks in Potosi as well as monetary donations. The program is a welcome help for many families that have a challenging time make ‘ends meet’ with the high cost of everything. Below, volunteers meet on Thursdays, usually at lunch time, at the Belgrade State Bank building that had the license office in it some years back, to pack bags with fresh fruit and other items for the kids. Above, the trucks are loaded on Friday mornings to deliver to the schools across Washington County. All support is appreciated!

The Potosi Elks Lodge #2218 crew and area volunteers are again collecting food supplies and delivering bags of items for Washington County kids through all local school districts.
The Back Pack Program began several years ago and has become a welcome addition to the school year for County kids.
The Elks and many volunteers from the area meet on Thursdays to bag a variety of food items for area children to take home over the weekend after a school week.
Last year the Back Pack Program closed out the school year delivering 350 bags of food to Richwoods, Kingston, St. Joachim, Potosi and Valley school districts.
This year the need is again great as inflation has hit the grocery stores and prices continue to rise. The Elks bag typically contains applesauce, breakfast pastry, canned meat item, breakfast or nutrition bar, milk and fresh fruit. The variety depends upon the availability of items in quantity.
Donations from the community continue to be wonderful and make the program a success. Any and all donations are welcome and can be left or delivered to Belgrade State Bank for the program. Donations come in food items and monetary form as well. There are several people that have made it their monthly ‘mission’ during the school year.
The children appreciate it and it is important to know that area youth are eating well and on a regular basis.
Donations can be made at the Belgrade State Bank Potosi Facility on North Missouri Street in Potosi.
Volunteers are welcome to help assemble bags for the Back Pack Program each week during the school year. Contact the Potosi Elks Lodge, Randy Eaton - 314-570-3675 or Dave DeGonia - 573-210-8097.