Although free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs provide significant nutritional benefits to students during the school day, many disadvantaged children do not receive sufficient food when school is not in session. The BackPack Program helps alleviate child hunger by discreetly providing hungry children with backpacks full of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food on Friday afternoons so they have food to eat throughout the weekend.
Bags contain the following items, with slight variation to provide variety:
- 2 breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal packets, graham crackers, granola bars)
- 3 entrées (mac & cheese, PB & J, Spaghettios, tuna, soup)
- A loaf of bread
- 2 shelf stable milks (plain and chocolate)
- 2 juice boxes (100% juice when possible)
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables
- 2 snacks (cookies, popcorn, pudding, etc.)
To donate to the BackPack Program, click here and choose “BackPack Program” in the Program Designation drop-down menu.
Currently, the BackPack Program serves more than 825 students at 33 schools in 12 counties. See the complete list of schools here.
The BackPack program is made possible by the generous support of many individuals and businesses. Click here to see a list of donors who have fully “adopted” a BackPack program.
For more information about the Backpack Program, please contact Betsy Dickson, Agency & Program Services Coordinator, at 518-786-3691 x233, or by e-mail at betsyd@regionalfoodbank.net.
