What is the backpack food program?

What is a backpack food program? Backpack food programs provide nutritious, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food to children to ensure they get enough food on weekends and holidays to avoid hunger when they can’t depend on school meals.

When did the backpack program start?

1995
The first backpack food program began in 1995. The program was developed in Little Rock, Arkansas out of the concern of a school nurse who was seeing a large number of children in her clinic tired, sick, and falling behind in class because of hunger and food scarcity in their homes.

How do you make a food program?

Making a meal plan can be broken down into six simple steps:

1. Review your schedule.
2. Choose your recipes.
3. Plug the recipes into your schedule.
4. Make your grocery list.
5. Shop.
6. Eat, enjoy, and repeat!

How is the Backpack program funded?

Some programs are supported by their local food bank or food pantry, some are 100% community funded through donations, some are funded through their local or state budget.

How do you drive a backpack?

You can let people know about your back to school backpack and supply drive through a number of ways.

1. Hang up a poster on a bulletin board.
2. Create a display in your lobby about your backpack drive.
3. Mention Operation Backpack® in your newsletter.
4. Bring it up in team meetings.
5. Send out an email to everyone.

How can I get free back to school supplies?

8 ways to get free school supplies this year

1. Your child’s school or school district.
2. The Salvation Army.
3. United Way.
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
5. Operation Homefront’s Back to School Brigade.
6. Kids in Need Foundation.
7. Local churches and community centers.
8. DIY school supplies drive.

What companies donate backpacks?

Who to Ask for a Backpack Donation. You can ask for corporate donations from popular backpack brands like JanSport, L.L. Bean, The North Face, Fjallraven and Nixon.

What do you put in a backpack drive?

$1.00 buys glue sticks for 20 children. $5 buys paper for 5 children. $20 buys a backpack filled with school supplies for 1 child. $50 buys a 5 pack of pens for 100 children….Specific items may include:

1. Backpacks.
2. Pencils.
3. Glue.
4. Crayons.
5. Scissors.
6. Pens.
7. Paper.

How does the backpack food program help kids?

Backpack food programs provide nutritious, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food to children to ensure they get enough food on weekends and holidays to avoid hunger when they can’t depend on school meals. Every backpack food program is unique to the community and school it serves.

How many children are served by the Backpack Program?

Today, bags of food are assembled at more than 160 local food banks and then distributed to more than 450,000 children at the end of the week. With your help, we can provide more food to more children in need. Want to find a Backpack Program in your community?

How to start a Backpack Program at your school?

Follow these steps to start a backpack food program at your school: Contact your local food bank to determine if existing backpack food programs are available and other resources they can provide. Set up a meeting with the principal to discuss the possibility of starting a backpack program in your school.

What’s the best way to distribute backpacks to children?

Consider the best way to distribute backpacks so participating children feel comfortable and children not participating in the program do not feel left out. Customize your program to meet your school’s needs. For example, if your program has limited capacity, consider doing monthly backpack distributions.