BHS senior helping with food insecurity
(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – While most high school seniors are thinking about their own future, one Batesville student makes it her mission to think of others.
The school system participates in a program called “Weekend Back Sack Program” which provides a backpack of kid-friendly, nonperishable food for the weekend for students who suffer from food insecurity.
The program is led by BCSC Director of Food Service Berna Meyer and approximately 74 kids benefit from the program each week.
Meyer needed an extra hand filling the sacks this year and that is when senior Lillian Lesneski got involved.
“I was talking to Superintendent Paul Ketcham on ways that I could get out in the community and help more people,” Lesneski said. “Mr. Ketcham said that there is a program he thought I could help with.”
Lesneski was connected with Meyer and they both devote time every Thursday to putting food in grocery bags.
The senior doesn’t know which students receive the food each week, but it means the world to help them.
“You never know what someone is going through or what a family is going through. So, anything that we can do to help is always good,” Lesneski told The 812.
Lillian is passionate about giving back to others and is using the passion to decide where she will go to college.
She will attend the University of North Texas and will major in interior design with a minor in Childhood Education. She will also participate in the school's color guard.
Lesneski chose North Texas because the school puts an emphasis on giving back to others.
“There are a lot of colleges that focus on giving back to their community, but not quite as much as they do. And I've learned that from my dad, always give back to the people that help you,” she said.
She added that she is not intimidated to travel to a new community and start giving back right away.
“I don't know anyone down there. But I know it’s a community that will accept me. When they have no prior knowledge of me, they don't know who I am, it is really important. I feel like giving back to them is really good."
The Weekend Back Sack Program is not only a passion for Lesneski, but also for Meyer.
"I know there are families that need it. I feel like I am helping because there are a lot of families that need that extra help with food on the weekends, you'd be surprised that there are kids who don't know where their next meal will come from."
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