As students count down the minutes until Thanksgiving break, Debbie Keytack and her sisters are busy preparing meals so no child goes hungry during the five-day school vacation.

“We’re all going to have Thanksgiving so why not these children,” said Debbie Keytack, one of the founders of the Feed Our Little Jays Backpack Program.

The program provides 26 Conemaugh Valley Elementary School students with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks every weekend for families who can’t afford it.

The elementary principal, Rebecca Castiglione, said the need is there. The entire district qualifies for the Community Eligibility Program: a statewide program that provides free breakfast and lunch to students.

“People fall on tough times for many different reasons, so that little bit of help really brings that sense of security when you are struggling and you are having stressful times,” said Castiglione.

Anyone who signed up for a Thanksgiving meal will get a turkey and all the trimmings: stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, etc.

“It’s a blessing for us, it’s a blessing for the kids and for the families and we truly appreciate the community support,” Castiglione said.

Since Feed Our Little Jays started in the spring, the program has more than doubled the number of families it feeds.

The sisters hope to feed more families, as long as donations the community keep coming in.

“You should all feel good for donating to this program, knowing that when you sit down to eat – not only on Thanksgiving or on Christmas, but a weekend – that you have helped to feed other people,” Keytack said.

Keytack and her sisters said they are thankful for the community’s support and thankful that the kids will have full bellies on Thanksgiving Day.

If you would like to donate money to Feed Our Little Jays, you can contact the Conemaugh Valley School District at: (814) 535-5005.