There are children in America that rely on resources such as free or reduced-priced school lunch,
during the school year.
The BackPack Program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other
resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.
About the BackPack Program
- Backpacks filled with food that children take home on weekends
- Food is child-friendly,
nonperishable and easily consumed.
- Backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on
the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation
The BackPack Concept
The BackPack Program concept was developed at the Arkansas Rice Depot, after a school nurse asked for help because
hungry students were coming to her with stomachaches and dizziness. The local food bank began to provide the school children
with groceries in non-descript backpacks to carry home.
More About this Program
In addition to providing nutritious food to school children in need, some BackPack Programs provide extra food for
younger siblings at home and others operate during the summer months when children are out of school and have limited access
to free or reduced-priced meals.
- The BackPack Program became a pilot program in 1995.
The National Council of Feeding America approved the BackPack Program as an official national program of the Network in July
2006.
- More than 140 Feeding America members operated more than 3,600 BackPack Programs
and served more than 190,000 children in FY2009.
What We Really Need...
- Drink juice boxes
- Soup
- Mac and Cheese (individual packs)
- Tuna
- Chili
- Peaches
- Jelly
- Snack bars
- Cookies
- Cup of noodles
- Applesauce
- Peanut butter
How You Can Help
All
2011 Friar Trot participants are encouraged to bring items from our food needed list above. Each item from the list
will receive one raffle ticket for a chance to win some great prizes on race day all provided by our generous sponsors.
It's a very small gesture to help out those kids who truly need to stay healthy and hunger free. Thanks so much for
all your help with this wonderful cause!
