BackPack Program
There are children in America that rely on resources such as free or reduced-priced school lunch, during the school year.
The BackPack Program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.
About the BackPack Program:
Bags/backpacks filled with food that children take home on weekends
Food is child-friendly, nonperishable, and easily-consumed
Bags/backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation
The BackPack Concept
The BackPack Program concept was developed at the Arkansas Rice Depot, after a school nurse asked for help because hungry students were coming to her with stomachaches and dizziness. The local food bank began to provide the school children with groceries in non-descript backpacks to carry home. Locally, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia piloted a BackPack Program for the first time on the Eastern Shore in 2008. The program received positive feedback and was wildly successful, spawning the establishment of a regionwide BackPack Program.
A Program of Feeding America administered by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
The BackPack Program became a pilot program in 1995. The National Council of Feeding America approved the BackPack Program as an official national program of the Network in July 2006. More than 140 Feeding America members operated more than 3,600 BackPack Programs and served more than 190,000 children in FY2009.
BackPack locations:
Accomack Elementary Schools:
Chincoteague - 6078 Hallie Whealton Smith Drive 23336)
Kegotank - 13300 Lankford Highway (23407)
Metompkin - 24501 Parksley Road (23421)
Pungoteague - 28480 Bobtown Road Melfa (23410)
Capron Elementary Schools:
Capron - 18414 Southampton Parkway (23829)
Chesapeake Elementary Schools:
Camelot - 2901 Guenevere Drive (23323)
G.W. Carver - 2601 Broad Street (23324)
Georgetown - 436 Providence Road (23225)
G. A. Treakle - 2500 Gilmerton Road
Southwestern - 4410 Airline Boulevard Chesapeake
Franklin Elementary Schools:
SP Morton - 300 Morton Street (23851)
Norfolk Elementary Schools:
James Monroe - 520 West 29th Street Norfolk (23508)
Suburban Park - 310 Thole Street Norfolk (23505)
Lindenwood - 2700 Ludlow Street Norfolk (23504)
Northampton Elementary Schools:
Kiptopeke - 24023 Fairview Road (23310)
Occahanock - 4208 Seaside Road (23350)
Portsmouth Elementary Schools:
Brighton - 1100 Portsmouth Boulevard (23704)
Victory - 2828 Greenwood Drive (23701)
James Hurst - 18 Dalgren Avenue (23702)
Churchland Academy - 4061 River Shore Road (23703)
Suffolk Elementary Schools:
Elephant's Fork - 2316 William Reid Drive (23434)
Virginia Beach Elementary Schools:
Newtown - 5277 Learning Circle (23462)
Bettie F Williams - 892 Newtown Road (23462)
Diamond Springs - 5225 Learning Circle (23462)
Birdneck - 957 South Birdneck Road (23451)
Cooke - 1501 Mediterranean Ave (23451)
Seatack - 912 South Birdneck Road (23451)
Wakefield Elementary Schools:
E.W. Chambliss - 10415 Higgins Street (23888)
The Foodbank currently has a waiting list of over 20 elementary schools in our service area who would like to receive the BackPack Program. When all of our current BackPack Program sites have been fully funded, we will then focus on opening up our wait-listed schools.
Foodbank can purchase
foods needed to provide balanced meals and support the operation of all our programs.
Thousands like you give their time and talent, helping in the office, warehouse and
distribution sites.
Food drives are
wonderful opportunities
to contribute directly
to those in need.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia is a nonprofit corporation governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. A copy of our financial statements is available upon request from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Virginia State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, Virginia 23218. FEIN #52-1219783. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and its branch, the Foodbank on the Eastern Shore, do not sell or share our list of donors to any third party entity.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia is a member of Feeding America and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.
