It is difficult to imagine at times, but there are children right here in Lawrence County who go without the simplest necessities on a daily basis.

Most of those children go to school right alongside your children and are expected to learn the same subjects and take the same tests, all while their stomachs are grumbling or they are wondering if the lights will be on at home.

It was because of these reasons and more that Backpack Buddies was started in 2012. The goal was to provide easy-to-open foods and snack items for needy children in the Rock Hill School District to take home on the weekends. This was to ensure those students’ nutrition didn’t end with the school week or summer break.

Since then, the group, founded out of Campbell Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Ironton, has expanded to other school districts in the county and has provided weekend meals to hundreds of children.

This past weekend, their mission grew to include a clothing giveaway, which reached 168 families with more than 300 children from Lawrence and surrounding counties.

Each child received 10 new clothing items and sizes ranged from infant to XL.

It is sad that organizations like Backback Buddies have to exist. But everyone should be thankful they have taken an active role to provide food and clothing to the county’s youngest citizens.