Backpack Program

The Backpack Program provides food for children who are at risk for hunger over the weekend. Nearly half the students in Weld County qualify for free or reduce priced meals. However, on Saturday and Sunday those meals are inaccessible which makes these kids even more vulnerable to hunger. Volunteers help us fill the packs with child friendly food including shelf stable milk, juice, a high protein meal, and three or four snacks. During the school year, we work with school counselors and teachers throughout the county to identify students who are in great need of food over the weekend. We then drop the packs at schools and the children take them home every Friday. Over the summer, we provide these food packs at our Summer Feeding sites and through our Emergency Food Program.

Currently, the Backpack Program operates in Berthoud, Dacono, Eaton, Erie, Evans, Firestone, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Galeton, Gilcrest, Greeley, Hudson, Johnstown, Keenesburg, Kersey, LaSalle, Lochbuie, Milliken, Pierce, Platteville, Severance, and Windsor.