RIFA gets boost from Wal-Mart during time of ‘funding challenges’

JACKSON, Tenn. — Volunteers at the Regional Inter-Faith Association sorted food Monday for hungry kids in Madison County.

RIFA Executive Director Lisa Tillman said the Snack Backpack program feeds nearly 1,000 kids a week during the school year. “These are food items that have been carefully selected as nutritious, kid friendly, easy prep,” she said.

Wal-Mart donated $25,000 on Monday to the Snack Backpack program, which provides weekend meals for kids who go home on Friday to little or no food.

“We want to try to help with the hunger situation that we have throughout the nation,” Wal-Mart Store Manager Jeff Schultz said.

The Snack Backpack program comes to an end when school lets out. “We will see the numbers increase in the soup kitchen over the summer. We do every year,” Tillman said.

Tillman said this summer, for the first time in five years, RIFA will not have a summer feeding program for kids. She said they typically served between 35 and 40 students. “Unfortunately, due to some funding challenges that we’ve had this year we’ve had to suspend that program,” she said.

Tillman said Walmart’s donation will help feed kids when school starts back in August.

RIFA said without donations, food for the Snack Backpack program would cost between $130,000 and $150,000 a year.