Does your school have a weekend food backpack program?

[SnuggleBuggles]

If your school (School and/ or parent group) coordinates the distribution of food to kids in need for the weekend or breaks, can you tell me about the program? I am interested in developing this at our school and considering the logistics. Do you get donations from businesses or organizations? Or do you get donations from the parent community ($/ gift cards, food...)? Our school is a non profit charter school (501c3).
About 30-40% of our students receive free or reduced lunch. I’m in touch with local schools already to learn from their models. But, I like casting a wider net for ideas to be successful and that’s where you come in. Thanks!


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[schrocat]

Here are some programs in our neighbouring school districts. http://www.lwsf.org/pantrypacks.html http://backpackmeals.org/ https://www.issaquahpowerpacks.com/ http://www.food4kidsshoreline.com/

[PZMommy]

Ours is a district funded program. It is only at certain schools though. However at every school all students get a free breakfast, free lunch, and a free hot supper after school.

[ang79]

We have had this in our district (at least for K-6) for the past few years. It is not funded through the district. Local organizations contribute a lot to it (a local retirement home actually contributes quite a bit), as well as the local food bank. Individuals can give donations towards it as well (both monetary and actual non-perishable food items). The school counselors are the ones who run it at each school. In my daughter's school, each child that participates has a name tag that the teacher hands to them at dismissal time on Fridays. The child then takes this to a designated location in the school where the counselor hands them "their" weekend backpack, which the child then returns on Monday. For the classes I sub in, there are usually about 2-4 kids per class that participate.

[ourbabygirl]

We have it, but I'm not sure who funds it. I think they put snack-y/ packaged foods in backpacks very discreetly, but I'm not sure who does it, just know that they send fliers home in the kids' folders so parents can contact the school or whatever if they're in need.

[ray7694]

Our program is run through our school resources liaison. The food is donated mostly from a food bank. Once a month a group of volunteers package the food into plastic shopping bags and store it. The food is mostly snacks, fruit cups, soup, macaroni and cheese, pasta cups. They want the kids to be able to easily make it.

Parents are contacts through the resource person to see if they want to be in the program. It is very discreet.

[niccig]

The school I work at has a hot supper program. Food is prepared in the school’s cafeteria by school staff, and it must be eaten on school campus. I think it’s district run but other partners are involved too. It’s everyday at end of school.


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[wendibird22]

In our county it is largely donations from area agencies, food pantry, food link (a large distributer of goods to pantries), and donations from an area college student group that helps supply the program.

[SnuggleBuggles]

These are very helpful! Thanks!!


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[maestramommy]

Our community food pantry (which is run by the Lions Club) coordinates with the schools in the area to do this.

[MSWR0319]

I'm not sure who else helps, but each school year once or twice a year, they usually do a food drive for a week. Each day is a different type of food for the backpack program. So one day may be macaroni and cheese, one day is spaghetti and sauce,one day is tuna or canned chicken and hamburger/tuna.chicken helped, one day is oatmeal, breakfast bars, etc and so on. We get a TON of food donated this way. The class that brings in the most gets a popcorn party or something like that. I know we have money as well, because the account is under the PTO account but the money doesn't usually leave the account so I think they must be getting sourced other ways as well. I can ask if you'd like more details.

[Momit]

We have done spring break backpacks for the last 2 years. A local insurance agent donated the bags themselves and some little freebies to put inside (frisbees, balls, activity books). We create a SignUp Genius for the other items we need - typically PB&J, bread, chicken noodle soup, granola bars and GoGo Saueeze applesauce. They are sent home very discreetly with kids on the last day before spring break. Our school is a kid of 3/4 affluent families and 1/4 lower income. Not all the lower income families request bags.