The Food 4 Friends program, which supports students in need in USD 464, got a big boost last week with the donation of more than $500.

The money was collected at a country Christmas show at The Jewel on Main, which area resident Charley Green promoted.

Green, who originally is from Linwood, wanted to partner with the school district because of his family’s longtime affiliation with education — many in his family are current or former educators.

Being from the area, he also was happy to help the cause.

The Christmas show, which attracted more than 200 people to The Jewel, brought in performers from Nashville and beyond.

Organizers asked for those in attendance to donate if they were able.

The Food 4 Friends Backpack program, which former TES counselor Connie Weltha started a few years back, assists children in the district whose families might need some food assistance.

Last year, current TES counselor Katie Welsh started the year with 17 students being served through the program, but it has increased to nearly 60 districtwide.

Welsh said the organization has had families in the past who have gotten in better shape financially who were able to leave the program.

Most of the recipients are Tonganoxie Elementary School students, but Welsh estimated there were about 15 middle school students in the program and three or four in the high school.

Throughout the school year, teachers provide students in need various foods to take home on Fridays. The teachers put the items in the students’ backpacks during recess or other breaks in the day when students aren’t in the classroom so that the youths receiving help can remain anonymous.

With the holidays coming up, Food 4 Friends is putting together boxes of food to help families feed their children during the winter break.

Welsh said volunteers also provide a box of food for children’s families at the end of the school year.

TES has a food pantry in the school where it stores donations. The program has received grants and additional help from Tonganoxie churches.

Tonganoxie United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 41 Women’s Auxiliary recently accepted donations at Dollar General and Brother’s Market.

The pantry currently is at capacity with food, which makes the monetary donations from concertgoers so important.

Welsh can buy food supplies as needed to give to the students when the pantry is full.

To help with the Food 4 Friends Backpack program, or for more information, call TES at 913-845-2290.