With a growing poverty rate among its student body, Athens City Schools is tackling hunger head-on with the help of local organizations.

One of the groups responsible for helping end hunger locally is the Full Tummy Project. Based out of Friendship United Methodist Church, it specializes in feeding children through the weekend, when school feeding programs aren’t operating.

It works by surprise: On Friday, a student goes to P.E. or another class and when they return to their homeroom, their backpack is filled with enough nonperishable food to last until breakfast Monday.

Regina Kyle stepped into the director’s position late in 2016, when Nikki Colwell and family moved to Georgia. Kyle, who has been with the project for the last five years, said she sees herself more as a coordinator than a director — coordinating donations, fundraisers and packing events.

Kyle said the program is better than ever, currently serving 191 children across all Athens elementary schools, Athens Intermediate School and Athens Middle School. This number will fluctuate more before the school year ends in May, she said, and will start out low again in August, but balloon as the year goes on.

“It got to a point where we told school counselors to pick children most in need,” Kyle told The News Courier. “Our goal always has been: bring the children and we’ll pray about it — pray their needs will be met and usually they have.”

Luckily, Kyle said church groups and civic organizations like Athens Rotary Club and Athens High School pitch in their time and resources to meet the needs of hundreds.

“(Rotary) provided for the whole month of January,” Kyle said. “We receive lots of community support.”

More children have been added to the program each year, Kyle said. It’s become so large Kyle’s main goal for 2017 is to seek full funding through a corporate sponsorship or other source so the project can be self-sufficient.

Those interested in donating their time can join the congregation at any of their services Sunday, Jan. 22, as they pack bags for February. Donations of money and food are also accepted.

For a full list of acceptable food items and a link to donate money, visit friendshipumc.org/fulltummy.