“Many displaced and low-income families this year. More than in years past. It is very helpful and the kids are so very thankful. I have also gotten several thank you letters from parents of how it is helping the family.”
The Backpack Program provides food year-round to children in need for weekends and holidays when school is not in session and federal school meal programs are not available.
Backpacks are stocked with kid-friendly, nutritious food including shelf-stable milk and juice, meals such as macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs and beef stew, granola bars, apple sauce, cereal and more.
They are distributed on Fridays or the last day before a holiday or vacation in a discreet manner at schools.
Program Objectives:
- Provide children at-risk of hunger with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food for preparation and consumption at home
- Distribute food within safe sites that offer easy access to the children being served
- Involve additional resources and partners in order to assure sustainability of the program
Program Outcomes:
- Reduce health problems in children served by mitigating negative consequences of under nutrition
- Remove the barrier of hunger that contributes to poor school performance
- Empower school personnel to take direct action to benefit hungry children
- Increase awareness among parents and guardians of resources available to low-income families in their community
- Increase awareness of positive nutrition to students’ families
To become a partnering site, please contact:
New Castle County
Melissa Lopez
mlopez@fbd.org
Kent County
Denise Hurtado-Valdez
dhurtadovaldez@fbd.org
Sussex County
Jaxson Turner
jturner@fbd.org
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
PACK
Food and informational flyers for the backpack meal bags are packed by volunteers.
DELIVER
The Food Bank of Delaware delivers the bags to participating sites weekly.
STORAGE
Site staff stores the bags in a secure area until distribution day.
DISTRIBUTION
School officials discreetly insert the bags into children’s backpacks before the weekend or holiday break.
EAT
Children enjoy their meal bags at home. They'll receive a bag each week at school.
It costs approximately $300 to provide one child with weekend and holiday food for an entire year.
This includes the cost of food for each week, supplies, transportation and program administration.
