Last year, teachers at several local schools noticed some students saving their lunch on Fridays so they'd have something to eat over the weekend. Hiland Park Baptist Church launched 'Blessings in a Backpack', providing those students with food for the weekend.

Monday, local business leaders donated to the program to help feed more hungry children at Lucille Moore Elementary.

"My Grandma doesn't have a lot of money so like, I think it's really good to give us food," said Catherine Cone, a third grade student at Lucille Moore.

Catherine and Adrianna Cone's grandmother is raising them. Supporting the two of them can sometimes be a financial burden. The “Blessings in a Backpack” program is lifting a huge weight off Carol Cones’ shoulders.

"They love their snacks and this cuts down a lot on my expense when this is done for them," said Carol Cones about the program.

Eighty-six percent of students at Lucille Moore receive free or reduced lunch. Parent liaison, Jeanette Best, really noticed the need when she hosted parent workshops.

"We provide food at those workshops and after those workshops I literally have children coming up to me asking to take food home to their families. And that just pulled on my heart strings and I said that was no okay," said Best.

Best launched the backpack program last Friday, sending 64 kids home with four dinner items, four snacks and six drinks.

Monday, the Bense Family Foundation, Gulf Coast Medical Center and Gulf Power donated $7,500 dollars to feed 100 kids every weekend.