Our BackPack Program provides backpacks full of supplemental nutritious, kid-friendly food to children who are “food insecure” over the weekend. When a child is “food insecure,” he or she is at great risk of going hungry. To combat this problem, food packages are picked up weekly by participating schools where staff members distribute them in backpacks, which are also donated by our program. The children may keep these backpacks for personal use.
During the 2010-2011 school year, we served 2265 children participating from 32 schools located in (12) Newark, (5) Elizabeth, (1) Bloomfield, (4) Irvington, (3) Perth Amboy, (2) East Orange, and (5) New Brunswick.
Specific BackPack Program items are either donated or are purchased at heavily discounted rates.
