Second Harvest Community Food Bank will host the fourth annual Backpack Buddies Walk-A-Thon in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on the Missouri Western State University campus Saturday, April 6. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged although teams and singles may register upon arrival. Attendees will be asked to make a suggested $5 donation and as a token of appreciation they will receive an event armband.

The Walk-A-Thon is a mile long walk inside the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex. Every walker will receive a coupon for a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich. Prizes will be given to first and second place winners. First place will be awarded a gift card to Texas Roadhouse and second place will receive a gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings. Other local donors for this event include Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Dunkin Donuts.

The Backpack Buddies Walk-A-Thon is an annual fundraiser sponsored by Second Harvest and the St. Joseph School District. The Walk-A Thon is designed to help local children who are dealing with hunger at home. Proceeds raised will benefit the Backpack Buddies program. Backpack Buddies provides backpacks full of nutritious, child-friendly food for impoverished schoolchildren to take home over the weekend. The program serves about 1,000 children a year within the St. Joseph School District.

“The Backpack Buddies Walk-A-Thon is a fun and easy way for the entire family to come out and help support Backpack Buddies,” said Aaron Smullin, public relations specialist with Second Harvest. “It only takes an hour of your time and after you’re done, you know you’ve helped to provide a meal to a child.”

Second Harvest and the St. Joseph School District are partner hosts for this event. For more information about the Backpack Buddies Walk-A-Thon visit www.OurCommunityFoodBank.org.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.

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