International students help feed local children

    Members of Murray State’s International Student Organization have teamed with Needline’s BackPack program to meet the needs of Calloway County children.
    “Every week we donate food for approximately 200 kids in our county with the help of our Food Services and this is how all internationals are involved,” Ashok Babu Kolla, president of the International Student Organization, said.
    “For every two items a student buys in Fast Track, Murray State’s Food Services will donate one item for the BackPack Program, Richard Fritz, director of Dining Services and Racer Hospitality Services, said.
    The list of foods that can be purchased at Fast Track includes Gushers, Capri Suns, applesauce cups, Frito Lays, peanuts, Rold Gold pretzels, granola bars and cereal bars.
    The BackPack Program is designed feed hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations, the Web site for the program stated.
    All the kids in the community, who are on the BackPack program’s list, receive this food and assistance, Kolla said.
    According to the Web site, backpacks are distributed discretely on Fridays and on the last day before a school break.
    Last year, the Indian Student Organization started the program at Murray State, Kolla said, and this year the International Student Organization is heading it up.
    This year the International Student Organization wanted to get involved, and with the help of Telugu Association of North America, USA and Canada, they were able to do this project here, Kolla said.
    These are the children of the school system who are already receiving free or cheaper school lunches, Kolla said.
    “Backpacks filled with food were donated to Murray Middle School and Calloway-County pre-schools on Oct. 28 with help of TANA and Murray State,” Kolla said.
    Gov. Steve Beshear, D-Ky., recently recognized the International Student Organization through a written letter commending the contribution and effort of its students on campus and in helping the local community, Kolla said.
    “You help hundreds of families in your area each week, providing children in need with healthy meals. As international students you are shining examples of caring global citizens helping those in need in your adoptive communities,” Beshear stated in the letter.
     The International Student Organization has committed to continue giving weekly donations to the local school children into the coming school year and in future school years, Kolla said.
    There will be a continuing association between the International Student Organization and Needline in order to keep these donations coming to the school children in the future, he said.
    The International Student Organization will also be initiating a new Christmas donation program involving donating sweatshirts to the same children who are receiving the backpacks of food, Kolla said.
    Students not directly involved can also help by buying food items at Fast Track, which adds to the food donations each week, Kolla said.
    Contact Thornton at casey.thornton@murraystate.edu.