Margo DeCana, executive director of the Food for Kids backpack program of North Florida, briefed Bradford County commissioners on the organization's work and local needs, saying the nonprofit now serves more than 1,300 students across four counties and that 167 of those students are in Bradford County.

DeCana described the program model: schools identify chronically food‑insecure students, obtain family consent, and a local liaison coordinates weekly distribution. Each weekend bag contains the equivalent of about 28 meals and can cover up to four children in a home. The program is run largely by volunteers and — DeCana emphasized — receives no federal, state or local government funding currently.

DeCana asked the commission to help by promoting volunteer opportunities and food drives, and to consider including a line item for Food for Kids in the county's budget planning for the next fiscal year. She invited officials to an open house at the organization's Gainesville warehouse on January 30 to observe volunteer packing and distribution.

Commissioners questioned the program's metrics. DeCana said survey response rates were historically low but that last year they achieved close to a 90% response rate among enrolled families after using texts, emails, QR codes and donor‑incentive raffles — information she said is used to tailor what goes in the bags. She also outlined partnerships with food suppliers (Florida Peanut Federation, Hunger Fight) and noted the organization buys in bulk to maximize donation dollars.

DeCana said the program packs additional regional boxes for longer school breaks and coordinates with Bradford County Fire Rescue and school staff for deliveries. She requested the board's consideration of volunteer recruitment, sponsorship of food drives and, when preparing next year's budget, that commissioners contemplate an appropriation to support the local effort.