More than just the building was damaged during last weeks Blanchard Elementary fire.  The SEMO Food Bank lost thirty backpacks when blaze occurred.  Those bags were used in the Backpacks for Friday program for children to have food through the weekend.  When the group lost their bags they called on the community to help by donating bags.  SEMO Food Bank Children’s Services Director Amanda Winschel tells us they were able to get students food to take home that same week.

One hundred bags were donated which is more than three times what they needed.  The program started two years ago serving only two schools and now has grown to serving 25. 

Michael Yetman of affiliate KZIM contributed to this report.