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Half of 12-year-old’s life has been dedicated to helping Harvesters

Dec 17, 12:31 AM

When Lucas Bain was 6, his mom, Elaine, took him to volunteer with her at Harvesters. Elaine has tried to teach all four of her sons the value of giving back. In the six years since, Lucas has helped pack BackSnack packs, worked Harvesters campaigns, helped make boxes for food, even sorted rice.

Gift of food helps — and eyeglasses, too

Dec 19, 11:38 PM

She knows the pressure to have things. And she knows some people judge her by what she doesn’t have. “It’s like if you don’t have what they have, you’re poor, you’re going to be a bum,” says the 16-year-old, who goes to an area high school. She doesn’t let it get to her. She’s focused on more important things: family, education, church.

Partnership with Harvesters feeds hungry Northland kids

Dec 19, 12:51 AM

The Northland kindergartner wants to be Superman when he grows up. For now, it’s him and his mom, and times can be financially tough. To help with that, every Friday he’s one of 40 kids at Graden Elementary School in Parkville who takes home a BackSnack from Harvesters. That’s possible because of a partnership formed a few years ago.

With food from Harvesters, teen helps her family and her neighbors

Dec 18, 12:24 AM

Earlier this school year, the high school sophomore admits, she was embarrassed.

Harvesters food program helps fill the grocery gaps

Dec 16, 1:22 AM

Teenagers are what this mobile food pantry at Wyandotte High School is all about. By the time children reach their teens, they’re typically not inclined to share their feelings or what’s going on at home. That means teens often go without, not getting all the food they need at home, or sitting alone at lunch when they can’t afford a meal.

Feeding hungry children

Dec 13, 12:43 PM

The Star is publishing two weeks of stories that show how hunger affects children and what people are doing about it. Here’s how you can help: The Star is partnering with Harvesters to host a virtual food drive. Go to feedingkckids.harvesters.org to make a donation. You can designate your donation in the honor of a family member or friend. The Star will publish the dedications on Christmas Day.

BackSnack program brings out smiles at a Northland school

Dec 13, 12:17 AM

The young girl wants to be a doctor. A veterinarian, too. Basically, she’d just like to help sick people and animals. And at age 10, she already feels like she’s helping her family. Each Friday, the Northland fifth-grader takes home a Harvesters’ BackSnack. She looks forward to it.

Hungry children get help and give help

Dec 10, 10:55 PM

The way Shane sees it, some kids don’t always have enough food. Maybe they’ve eaten everything in the house and their mom and dad aren’t home yet, the 11-year-old Kansas Citian says. It could be that no one has gone to the store in a while. Maybe some parents can’t afford all the food their family needs.

Young crusader’s birthday haul: PB&J for hungry children

Dec 9, 11:28 PM

When Lauren Gramlich turned 16 last year, she didn’t ask for jewelry or cash or gift cards. She wanted peanut butter. And jelly. Lots of jars of both. By the end of her party, she had quite a haul — 185 jars of the favorite staples of many kids. She donated all of it to City Union Mission in Kansas City to help provide sandwiches for people at the homeless shelter.

For needy families, food donations ‘are everything’

Dec 9, 2:00 AM

Most schools provide breakfast and lunch for children during the week, and on Fridays thousands of area children receive BackSnacks from Harvesters to provide food for the weekend. Each year, as money allows, the BackSnack list has grown to reach more children.

KC Challenge a model for food banks across the U.S.

Dec 7, 11:01 PM

Mindi Jones was worried two months ago when she first handed out BackSnacks to kids at an elementary school in the Lee’s Summit district.

Community provides refuge for homeless, hungry youth

Nov 24, 9:49 PM

Darius Bryant’s telling a story. His story. At just 18 years old — he’ll be 19 in January — Bryant knows what it’s like to be hungry, to walk a couple of miles just to get a meal at a soup kitchen or church.

With shelf-life problem, local food banks are running short

Oct 30, 11:35 PM

Some local food banks and pantries have a shelf-life problem. They’re largely flush with fresh produce, but not so much with long-lasting canned goods.

Farmland gives Harvesters $50,000

Oct 18, 10:58 PM

Harvesters — The Community Food Network reaped a $50,000 donation Thursday from Farmland Foods and its recent “Bacon A Difference” campaign.

A family effort makes a big difference in fighting hunger

Dec 12, 12:48 AM

Piper Bold, 18, of Leawood, knows that some kids in this area, including Johnson County, don’t always have enough food at home. And she’s surrounded by family and friends who also get it. Late last month, they went to Harvesters to volunteer and present a check for the BackSnack program.

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