The help comes through grants received through Halifax Helps, the administrative organization for Operation Round Up offered by the Halifax Electric Membership Corporation.

Hollister Elementary School will start a Backpack Buddies program to provide children in need with healthy weekend meals during the school year.

The children will receive a backpack containing several balanced meals and two healthy snacks at the end of every week.

The Halifax Helps grant of $1,000 will get this program under way.

Left to right:  Charles Guerry, Halifax EMC, Executive Vice President, Beverly Walker, Halifax EMC, Board President, Yvette Richardson, Social Worker for Halifax County Schools, Linda Nyborg, Iluka, Program Director for Adopt-A-School, Debbie Hardy, Halifax Helps Board President

Northwest Halifax High School also received a grant from Halifax Helps.

Their $2,000 funding will be used to purchase specialized software technology for their Exceptional Children Program.

Recent studies have shown that the new software developed for autistic students has shown remarkable improvement in their learning abilities.

With the budget shortfall from normal funding, this grant will help the EC program secure this technology.

For more information on these programs, contact Duna Dickinson at the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce at 252-519-2612 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..