Oklahoma Kids Express How The Food Bank Backpack Program Impacts Them

News On 6 has partnered with the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank's backpack program. Every week, school children at risk of going hungry take home a bag of extra food to tide them over the weekend.

So while we've heard from teachers, counselors and parents, we've never heard from the children themselves about the impact of these backpacks. Until now.

Women at the food bank are working on a very special book that will eventually make its way to our nation's capital.

School children in the backpack program were asked to draw a picture and describe what their backpack means to them.

The results were funny, inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking.

"I have a brother so it's not my fault. But my mom doesn't have a lot of money," wrote one child.

That is a little window into how children try to process adults situations.

Eileen Bradshaw officially took over as executive director of the food bank just last month. The backpack program is only a small part of what the food bank does, but it's already become dear to her heart.

"It is particularly rewarding. It's something that you can see an impact almost immediately," Bradshaw said.

And so she wants others to know how important the program is too. The best of the artwork is being saved in a notebook that will be delivered to members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation.

Federal cutbacks and rising food prices have posed a tremendous challenge for the food bank in the last year.

Bradshaw hopes these little pictures, and their powerful message, might make a difference.

"We want legislators to understand the human impact that hunger, and in turn hunger solutions have," Bradshaw said.

She believes Backpacks for Kids make an impact. She's seen the evidence.