Podcast (root-of-the-matter-podcast): Play in new window | Download
The clay shooting sports events, Shooting Hunger, has raised enough money to provide more than two million meals to feed Tennesseans in need. Shooting Hunger is an event put on by the Tennessee Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid-America, Rural First, and the Tennessee Farmers Co-op. In recent years the money raised has been distributed to all 95 counties to go towards the backpack program, which sends food home with kids in need. Jessica Johnson coordinates the backpack program in Rutherford County. She says without the money from Shooting Hunger, kids would go hungry.
Thomas Capps
Joining us now on Root of The Matter is Jessica Johnson with Rutherford County Schools. And Jessica, you’re here at the Rutherford County Farm Bureau today and y’all are doing something really cool. Y’all are packaging food for the backpack program here. And of course, Farm Bureau, and really a lot of different ag organizations have been a big help with that over the last couple of years with the shooting hunger event. Tell me a little bit about what exactly y’all are doing here and really what the backpack program is.
Jessica Johnson
Okay. So, again, like you said, thank you, first of all for having me. So my name is Jessica Johnson and I am with the homeless education program with Rutherford County Schools. Currently, we have over 1,300 students that are considered homeless in our community that attends Rutherford County Schools. And our backpack program gives food to our students, so they have food to go home with for the weekend, we know that our students because the majority of their food, from our schools, breakfast and lunch, and we know that when they’re not with us, their nutrition is often not available. So the backpack program is crucial to keeping our kids fed and shooting hunger. We’ve been working together and continue to work together and if they just help us keep our kids keep their nutrition in their bodies in so we know that they’re going to be taken care of over the weekend. It’s just we’re grateful for this partnership that we have with shooting hunger.
Thomas Capps
So that number again, how many homeless students do you have?
Jessica Johnson
Over 1,300. That students living in motels, some living in cars, some living in shelters, transitional housing, and just moving from home to home?
Thomas Capps
I mean, that’s just an unbelievable, really, I mean, you know, we we don’t really imagine that we know the need is there. But 1300. That’s, that’s a big number. And with without this program, as you mentioned, a lot of these kids wouldn’t have anything to eat, right?
Jessica Johnson
You’re correct. So our numbers are up by 300 of this time last year. And the food that they we give them is easy to prepare food, so things that they can put in the microwave, because we know that you know we even have preschool students that are in this program, and they might not have someone at home that can assist them. So we want to make sure that whatever we’re giving them is meeting their hunger need is somewhat nutritious, and it’s I can prepare, so guess our backpack meals also fits in a backpack. So that’s where the backpack meal comes from. So we either slip it in their backpack, so it’s, it’s a private situation, not everyone knows what’s going on at their home where they’re staying, or it’s in a bag, so nobody knows what’s in it.
Thomas Capps
That school will be out of session in another month or so is this something that you all are able to do year round? And how do you make that happen year round.
Jessica Johnson
So Rutherford County, my positions moving into a full year position, because like you said, students are hungry all year, it doesn’t stop just because school is on. And so we have a lunch program where we have schools that are open for breakfast and lunch on the north and the south ends of the county, but students have to be able to get there. But we will also be giving food up during summer schools for students to take home and we will make sure I will make sure that everyone’s still getting those needs met and deliver to.
Thomas Capps
And so today here at the local County Farm Bureau office, y’all are actually packaging some of that food, the food that was purchased from the shooting hunger proceeds. Just how big of a help is that? Because I’m sure feeding 1,300 students year round like that. That’s a big undertaking, I would imagine.
Jessica Johnson
Yes. So our program is funded off of one grant from the state. And there’s absolutely no way we could feed our students on the weekends. Because it’s not a requirement. But for me as a mom, and just as someone that cares about children, I cannot imagine children having lunch at 11 o’clock, and going home on a Friday. And not being able to get back to school to eat until seven Monday morning. With all the resources we have in our wonderful country and state, it’s just a blessing, that Farm Bureau is just so good to partner with us because truly, they they give the opportunity to our kids that I just don’t have to give because of finances and that it helps give extra food to our kids. And we’re just asking for basic basic needs and Farm Bureau hips stay that helps us make those things.
Thomas Capps
I mean, we always say the people that grow our food are amazing. And that’s who we represent every day and they grow enough food to where everybody should be able to have something to eat and especially these these kids, I mean, they’re most innocent among us, and this is definitely making that happen.
Jessica Johnson
Yes, if it wasn’t, if it wasn’t for this program, there was no way there would be no way because Send this extra food home on the weekends. Because this program that I operate under does not have the funds to do so without partnerships like with the Farm Bureau shooting hunger,
Thomas Capps
And the shooting hunger event. I mean, this is something that’s really grown over the years, we have three events now, West, middle and East Tennessee. And a lot of times, you know, people it’s Farm Bureau is a big part of it. But yeah, Tennessee farmers Co Op farm credit, and just a whole lot of people and the ag community that comes together, they may come to these shooting events and, and shoot in it and know that it’s going for a good cause. But now, you know, once once we’re here today, they can actually see the end result and see where this is going that what they’re doing is more than just a clay sporting event, it’s actually going to defeat the people of Tennessee.
Jessica Johnson
Yes, in my opinion, education is our number one resource for our children, and it’s not their fault, the situation that our children are living in. And by the funds that Farm Bureau shooting, hunger is donating to the program that I’ll work with, which is called Atlas, where you’re giving these children, maybe school isn’t their favorite place to be. But if they know they’re going to receive food and support from us, I hope it gets them in the door every day, and keeps them coming to school on a regular basis. And shooting hunger provides that extra food it it keeps them coming in the door. And by them continuing to come to school, it keeps them on track for graduation. Education is definitely what they need to improve their situation.
Thomas Capps
And I’m sure you mentioned the grant. We’ve mentioned how shooting hunger is played a big role in that. But I’m sure even those resources are limited. If people are listening to this, and they want to help even more than what they already have. Or maybe they’ve never heard of this. And this is their first time hearing about it. Is there a way for people to help and provide funding or whatever is needed for this program.
Jessica Johnson
If anybody wanted to provide any kind of assistance for the program, they can make a donation to Rutherford County Schools Atlas program. And those funds would go directly to our students and help support that food is sufficiency that they that we deal with on a weekly basis, it would go straight to the Atlas programs account where we buy groceries, and meet the basic needs our children have every day.
Thomas Capps
And your time. In this position. Have you seen the need grow? Is it something that continues to grow every year?
Jessica Johnson
Yes. Today? Well, I’ll talk about from yesterday. And today, just the beginning of this week, we’ve enrolled 20 More students, this program isn’t something that you just enroll in the beginning of the year. It’s a daily basis. And like I said previously, we have 300 More students today that we did this time last year. It’s so sad to see the numbers just continuing to grow. The knee continues to grow. And I don’t see it slowing any at all this year. So it makes me wonder what’s going to happen next year. It just seems to be larger and larger.
Thomas Capps
We’ll just get a wonderful thing that you all are doing. And the great thing is is that this, this is going to all 95 counties. So it’s not just here in Rutherford County, this is helping kids all across the state. And it does sound like the need unfortunately continues to grow. But hopefully this is making a difference and, and feeding hungry, hungry children.
Jessica Johnson
This is making a huge difference. And I hope that anyone that hears this realizes a major impact a direct impact for our students and the future of our communities. This program is making a huge difference. So thank you so much.
Thomas Capps
Well, the name of our podcast is root of the matter. And so we always ask this question to anyone that’s on here. What is the root of the matter with this particular subject?
Jessica Johnson
The root of the matter for this particular subject for my students, being homeless, I think is affordable housing in our area. But that’s a huge, huge problem. So for me, the root of the matter is making sure students are fed so they can come to school and learn every day and not have a hungry tummy because nobody’s going to be able to sit still and learn when they’re starving.
Thomas Capps
Well, Jessica, thanks for joining us today.
Jessica Johnson
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
