Hospital to host kid's backpack drive

Stones River Hospital and DeKalb Community Hospital along with the artists of Off the Beaten Path Studio Tourare sponsoring the annual ‘Hungry Kids Backpack Food Drive’.

Last year, in honor of the combined pounds lost during the Weight Loss Challenge, the hospital donated over 943 pounds of food for both Cannon and DeKalb County backpack programs. The donated food - such as crackers, juice boxes, raisins, and microwaveable pasta – will be used for hundreds of hungry kids across both DeKalb and Cannon Counties.

“Last year, after such a tremendous outpouring of community support, some of the backpack program directors were moved to tears of gratitude upon receiving such a tremendous amount of food!” said Shan Burklow – Marketing Director of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospital, “It made us feel so good to see everyone come together and give whatever they could. Donation drop boxes are available at both DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospital or can be dropped off in theadministration office as well. The artists of Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour will be selling pottery and art at the DeKalb Farmers Market with 100% of the proceeds supporting the program as well.”
“This is an important need that takes everyone’s continued support to conquer. Children should never go home and have nothing to eat, but unfortunately, this happens more than we can imagine,” said Sue Conley- CEO of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospital, “It is our goal to beat last year’s donations and raise over one thousand pounds of food for this worthy cause. Please come out and donate whatever you can spare.”

The program asks that donations be limited to non-perishable items, pop-top pasta, crackers, juice boxes, raisins, pretzels, individually wrapped snacks, granola bars, etc. No candy or sugar items will be distributed. For more information on how to participate, contact