Duke Energy teams up with Blessings in a Backpack to feed Floyd County students over spring break

The nonprofit said nearly 1 in 6 children in Floyd County face food insecurity.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) — A local effort to make sure students have food while they're not at school got some extra help Thursday.

Volunteers from Duke Energy teamed up with Blessings in a Backpack's Floyd County chapter to pack extra food bags to go home with students for the next few weeks while they're on spring break.

More than 400 food bags will go to students at Scribner Middle School in New Albany. Bags include enough food for three weekends and will be distributed to students from food-insecure homes. According to the nonprofit, nearly 1 in 6 Floyd County children face food insecurity.

"We know there's a need out there for food insecurity and so we just wanted to do our part to make an impact on that," said Lisa Huber with Duke Energy.

The volunteers also included some information on how families can save money on energy as well as financial assistance available for Duke Energy customers.

Additionally, the New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation received a $5,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation for the Blessings in a Backpack initiative in Floyd County. Leaders said the funding will help the initiative expand to include more students.

Right now, the Floyd County chapter provides food for 2,000 kids in pre-K through eighth grade to ensure they don't go hungry.

Blessings in a Backpack started in Louisville and is made up of seven regional chapters. The nonprofit provides bags of food for students who depend on school meals and may otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

To learn more about Blessings in a Backpack, including how to donate or volunteer, click here.