RAPID CITY - Once school starts, at least 417 children in the Rapid City School District will take home a backpack filled with free, nutritious foods every Friday.

Community Food Banks of South Dakota is expanding the backpack program started last year, according to Monica Leitheiser, site manager of the Rapid City branch of Community Food Banks.

The program has been well-received, and students apparently like it, Leitheiser said.

The extra food makes a big difference for students and teachers who are frequently asked for food, according to Jeanne Burckhard principal at North Middle School, where the program started last December.

"We don't have hungry kids on Monday morning," Burckhard said. "If you have a full stomach, you can study."

Income guidelines and a family's willingness to participate in the program are used to determine who receives a backpack.

About 86 percent of North's students live in poverty, according to Burckhard. And the numbers keep climbing every year.

"There are so many kids in poverty," she said.

More than 36 percent of Rapid City's elementary students and 34 percent of middle school students rely on the National School Lunch Program's free and reduced meals to eat at school, Leitheiser said.

Not only does the backpack program provide extra food for hungry kids, it teaches good eating habits, Burckhard said.

To the delight of the program's organizers, students requested more fruit in the backpacks in a spring survey, she said.

"That was pretty awesome," Burckhard said.

After starting at North Middle School, the program grew last spring to help students at General Beadle, Horace Mann, Robbinsdale and Valley View elementary schools. When school ended in June, 317 students were taking home backpacks of food.

This year, the program will expand to supply 40 food packages at Wilson Elementary School and 60 packs at Knollwood elementary.

Children will take home a selection of child-friendly food items they can prepare in the microwave or eat without cooking.

Leitheiser manages to keep the average cost of the backpack provisions to about $3.50 a week. Costs can vary from week to week, depending on the menus.

When possible, Leitheiser uses the food bank's inventory to help reduce food costs, but there is always a need for financial assistance to support the program.

With additional funding, the program could expand to reach more children, Leitheiser said.

Anyone interested financially helping with the backpack program can call Leitheiser at 348-2689 or send a contribution to Community Food Banks of South Dakota, 814 N. Maple Ave., Rapid City, SD 57701.

Contact Andrea J. Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com