BackPack Program

When children leave school for the weekend, the last thing they should worry about is having enough to eat. Unfortunately, hundreds of children in our part of Virginia are at risk of going hungry when they leave school grounds. The BackPack Program ensures that children at risk of hunger have food to eat when school-based resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations. Each Friday, or the day before a school vacation, children receive backpacks full of nutritious foods to take home. Were it not for the BackPack Program, many of these children would go hungry outside of school hours.

We launched our BackPack Program in the fall of 2006 at Craigsville Elementary School with 90 children. We select elementary schools that have at least 50% or more of its students receiving free and reduced-price school lunches throught the National School Lunch Program.  Inside a typical backpack, you will find child-friendly, non-perishable and vitamin-fortified foods such as tuna, beef stew, fruit cups, cereal boxes, 100% juice boxes, shelf-stable milk and peanut butter.  All cans are easy-open, pop-top containers.  The program has grown by leaps and bounds, providing thousands of children with nourishing food last school year.

EXISITING BACKPACK PROGRAM LOCATIONS
• Albemarle County 
• Amherst County
• Augusta County
• Campbell County 
• Fluvanna County
• Harrisonburg
• Loudoun County

• Lynchburg 
• Waynesboro 
• Winchester