Dental supplies added to student food-filled backpack program

• More than 600 signed up for weekend backpack program

With the beginning of a new school year, the Food 4 Kids backpack program has transitioned from summer delivery to school delivery. The program sent home 138 backpacks on Aug. 18, to kids in Ruidoso.

Since then, the numbers have grown and now more than 600 kids signed up from Capitan, Hondo, Carrizozo and Ruidoso to receive a weekend backpack.

One of the partners of the Food 4 Kids Backpack program is Dr. Kenneth Childress and his wife Laura from Children’s Dental Clinic here in Ruidoso. For the last two years they have donated bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss and information on proper brushing to the children receiving backpacks. This is a huge blessing to the children and a great way to start off a new year of school. 

“We are very excited to partner with Children’s Dental and give each of the children enrolled in the program not only food on the weekends but a very important hygiene item,” Elizabeth Potter, who heads the backpack program with husband Frank Potter, said. The generosity of Dr. Childress and his wife is a true blessing to the children in Lincoln County. “

The Food 4 Kids Backpack program always is excited to partner with local groups to bring additional resources to children and families, she said.

Weekend food backpacks are available to any child upon request. The Food 4 Kids Backpack program serves children in Ruidoso, Hondo, Capitan and Carrizozo. For more information, contact Elizabeth Potter at 575-937-4732, or email at lincolncountybackpacks@gmail.com or visit the webpage ruidosofood4kids.org.