PENDER COUNTY, N.C -- Almost 300 students in Pender County have already self-declared as homeless as a result of Florence, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and Pender County Christian Services are lending a helping hand.

• The backpack program gives kids living with food insecurities something to eat when they're home over the weekend, and the school cafeteria is closed
• Now the number of students in need has almost doubled from 150 students across six county schools
• The Food Bank packed up a two-week supply, 561 bags, and delivered it to Westview UMC

On a usual Sunday, some volunteers with Christian Services would gather at Westview United Methodist Church and pack bags of non-perishable food items for their backpack program. The program gives kids living with food insecurities something to eat when they're home over the weekend, and the school cafeteria is closed.

"The counselors identify the students on a per need basis from what maybe the teacher has seen as far as behavior," said Sarah Lanier, Westview UMC Missions Coordinator.

Following Florence, those guidelines are expanding.

"Now, is the element of those that have been displaced," said Lanier.

According to Lanier, about 150 students across six county schools, in total, benefitted from the backpack program, but now the number of students in need has almost doubled. With higher demand placed on their stock, the Food Bank has stepped in to help.

"We did not have a backpack program at Pender High School or Heide Trask High School before now, and they have identified 60 kids at each of those schools, so 120 total that have been displaced by the storm and are self declared homeless," said Beth Gaglione, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC at Wilmington Branch Director.

To cushion the load and preserve some of the churches resources, the Food Bank packed up a two-week supply, 561 bags, and delivered it to Westview UMC.

"This will sustain us for the next two weeks unless the counselors come up with more numbers than what we're anticipating," said Lanier. "If so, we'll be back in here Sunday packing them."

Gaglione and Lanier said they expect more students to need help as the school year goes on. The Food Bank is prepared to provide food assistance for those in need for the rest of the school year, if they have to.

If you would like to help this cause with donations, find out how here.