But some Missouri children can't wait to go back to school - if only for the chance to have a good lunch.

To ensure that every child is well fed, the Central Missouri Food Bank came up with a plan that is putting more than just homework in kid's backpacks.

"Nobody wants to see children go hungry. Nobody wants kids not to have enough food," said Jessica Spanglehour of the Central Missouri Food Bank.

With the rising gas and food cost more families are deciding between paying the bills and feeding the family. Sometimes that means not having enough food for the children. So three years ago the Central Missouri Food Bank came up with a plan, a plan that zipped into action.

"The Buddy Pack program is set up in schools much like a food closet- it's for children who need food over the weekend," Spanglehour said.

The program soared. Starting with just four schools in two counties, the Buddy Pack program is now in 60 schools throughout 14 different counties.The program uses volunteers to pack back packs full of food and every Friday the back packs are given to students. The back packs are a way to make sure families have something to eat over the weekends. Each Monday they bring them back to get refilled. The program not only makes sure kids aren't going hungry but it gives them a sense of security.

"I had a kid who received his first buddy pack and he didn't know why I was calling him to the office but when he came down and saw what I had he just threw his arms around me and said thank you Mrs. Cox- he was so excited," said home school communicator Cathy Cox.

With the program growing so fast, the food bank relies on donors.

"It's the ones who donate a dollar or a can of food or an hour of their time- the ones who see the need of somebody else, their neighbor in need and do something about it...They're the ones who keep us going," said Peggy Kirkpatrick of the Central Missouri Food Bank.

With school almost out, the Buddy Pack program will cut back but the food bank still does what they can for the kids.The food bank is always taking donations for backpacks and food. They have a program called food for kids where kids can go to receive food over the summer.