A Commitment to Send Hunger Packing

BackPack Program FAQS

Northern Illinois Food Bank’s BackPack Program—a national program of Feeding America, is designed to provide food to chronically hungry children in communities with limited resources to meet the need for emergency food assistance. Additionally, the BackPack Program is intended to provide chronically hungry children food on weekends or school vacations when access to school meal programs is not available. Since initiating the program in January 2008, NIFB has partnered with 64 schools to provide over 76,867 backpacks each containing shelf-stable and children-friendly meal components for the weekend for a family of three.

Each week, NIFB staff develops a menu of nutritious food items to provide two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and healthy snacks for the child and as many as two siblings or other family members. Personal care items, such as soap and gloves, are provided when available. NIFB volunteers pack the food items for weekly deliveries to partnering schools for distribution to the pre-identified children. Students receive food on Fridays before the weekend and are responsible for bringing the empty backpack back to the school for the next weekend’s distribution.

The children served in the BackPack Program are identified by partner school professionals such as principals, social workers, teachers and administrators who have recognized indications of chronic hunger or who may be aware of extenuating family circumstances. School professionals not only identify the children but also talk with parents or guardians to obtain permission for participation.

The BackPack Program is 100% funded through charitable contributions. If you are interested in making a monetary donation in support of the BackPack Program and Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Programs contact Hester Bury, Senior Development Officer.

As Northern Illinois Food Bank has worked with schools on the BackPack Program, the food bank has become acutely aware of the potential to provide low-income families access to emergency food assistance in partnership with local schools. With funding from Target, NIFB is piloting several school based food pantries.