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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Around 44 percent of school children in Central and Northeast Missouri qualify for free or reduced school lunch.

That is about 55,000 students across this portion of the state, many of those right here in Adair county.

Area food banks have partnered up in the “Buddy Packs” program. By collecting donations they can assure that kids not only get a nutritious meal at school, but also at home.

Over the last few months there has been a big push in the program which has been very successful.

“Adair County is the first county of the food banks' 32 to surpass its goal for free Buddy Packs in their school districts. We have been the first and we are actually at 102 percent and by this afternoon 107 percent,” said Regional Coordinator of Central and Northeast Missouri Food Banks Mike DeSantis.

Buddy Packs has been so successful that many Adair County Schools are covered for the next school year.

“We raised more then $16.650.50 and it is actually closer to $17,000 or $17,500 now and we have a lot of people that are still going to come in or give more and because of this we have not only covered Adair County children next school year with all costs done, we can actually open up another school district in Brashear,” DeSantis said.

One hundred percent of the donations in Adair County stay local. Donations may be made at area food banks or Alliant Bank.