Connections With Haltom Middle School

Last week, Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer, Traci Shurley, reported on the "Backpacks for Kids" food program. She noted:

"Each Backpacks for Kids school site costs about $12,000 annually to run; the food bank gets operating help from Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County and other community groups. Officials would like to expand even more. They believe that support from community groups could make that possible.

"Starting Backpacks for Kids at Haltom Middle School, for example, was first discussed about four months ago when Richland Hills Church of Christ members approached Birdville school district officials with the idea to volunteer for the event, school officials said. Now the church is working in cooperation with the food bank to make the distribution possible.

"Haltom Middle School is the first who already had a community organization ready to volunteer," said Kathy Handler, coordinator of the Birdville district's after-school programs. "Tarrant Area Food Bank usually has to search for an organization to help with the program."