MONROE — Last week, SSM Health Monroe Hospital and SSM Health Monroe Clinic Medical Group donated nonperishable food items to the School District of Monroe to support their Backpack Buddies Program. 

The Backpack Buddies program at School District of Monroe provides weekend food for students with food security needs. Currently, the Backpack Buddies Program serves 125 Monroe students to ensure that they have the nourishment needed to thrive.

This donation is the result of a food drive led by SSM Health Monroe Hospital’s Mission Action Team across their hospital, all 12 SSM Health Monroe Medical Group clinics and community. The drive collected specific food items requested by the school district that included applesauce cups, soft and chewy granola bars, oatmeal packets, tuna pouches, boxes of graham crackers, boxes of saltine crackers, peanut butter cracker packets and individual Easy Mac.

“When the school district posted that they were need of support for their Backpack Buddies program, we knew that we wanted to help those families have access to food,” said Tiffany Busch, Business Operations Manager at SSM Health Monroe Hospital and Mission Action Team member. “We are very thankful to have such a wonderful team and community here in Monroe who made the effort to give back by donating to our drive.”

As reported in the 2024 Green County Community Health Needs Assessment, roughly 1-in-7 children in Green County are food insecure. 

“On behalf of the School District of Monroe, I want to express our sincere gratitude to SSM Health for their generous support of the Backpack Buddies program,” said Joe Monroe, Interim Superintendent for the School District of Monroe. “Your commitment to collecting and donating food will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and their families. We are truly grateful for your partnership and dedication to serving others.”