Backpack Buddies

We operate a variety of programs to support local children, but the one we are most recognized for is our Backpack Buddies Program. What began in 2013 as a small effort to provide weekend food bags for 25 students has grown into a year-round initiative that now serves hundreds of children each week.

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Through our Backpack Buddies Program, we help combat childhood hunger for economically disadvantaged students from preschool through 8th grade by providing food for the weekend. While schools supply weekday breakfasts and lunches to children who qualify for free or reduced meals, we extend that support beyond the school day with bags of food that are discreetly slipped into students’ backpacks on Fridays. The recipients are identified by school counselors, ensuring that help goes directly to the children who need it most.

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Each week during the school year, we purchase, pack, and deliver bags of shelf-stable food to the schools we support. Each Backpack Buddy bag typically includes 2–3 breakfast items, 2–3 lunch items, and a variety of snacks to help sustain students through the weekend. During the 2024–25 school year, we packed more than 11,700 bags of food, supporting 355 students weekly across four schools.

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