Thanks to so many individuals, businesses and groups in and around Wiscasset, the Wiscasset Feed Our Scholars Weekend Backpack Initiative, in cooperation with Good Shepherd Food Bank and Two Bridges Regional Jail, will kick off its deliveries of nutrition packets to 40 food insecure students attending Wiscasset's schools.

Twenty children at the primary school and 20 at the middle school will be taking home packets with enough components for six meals beginning this weekend and continuing throughout the 2013-2014 school year.

Already up and running, there is a Kids’ Pantry at the high school, funded through a grant to Good Shepherd Food Bank by Morgan Stanley.

Unlike the food packets given to the younger children, the older students, more able to be responsible about selecting food for themselves and their families, currently have access to a supply of shelf stable foods. In the near future, Good Shepherd anticipates also regularly supplying vegetables and frozen packages of meats as possibilities for the taking.

The need won’t end with this year, however. Feed Our Scholars will be seeking help to continue this mission, and hopefully to be able to enlarge the number of students reached. Fundraising events will continue with a showing of the documentary, “A Place at the Table,” at Wiscasset First Congregational Church on Friday, September 27, at 7 p.m.

Admission is by donation. This powerful testament to the importance of dealing with childhood hunger is a must-see for the whole community.

The FOS group welcomes others who would be interested in becoming involved in the initiative. To volunteer to ferry food packets from Two Bridges to the schools on Thursday mornings, to help with fundraising ideas and events, or to work on grant writing, contact St. Philip’s Church at 207-882-7184, or email at FeedOurScholars @gmail.com.

Visit www.feedourscholars.wordpress.com or like us on Facebook to learn more about the program.

Just want to donate funds? Look for spare change cans at various stores and eateries around town or better yet, send a check to Feed Our Scholars, St. Philip’s Church, 12 Hodge St., Wiscasset.

A donation of $250 supports a child for a school year; $125 for a semester; $75 for three months; $25 for a month; $6.50 for a weekend. As an outreach mission of St. Philip’s Church, Feed Our Scholars is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization.

Donations large and small will help to fill hungry tummies.