How the BackPack Program for Schools Helps Students Thrive and How You Can Support It

For most students, the final bell on Friday afternoon signals a break from homework and early alarms. For too many children across Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, it also signals the start of a long stretch of uncertainty. From Friday lunch to Monday breakfast, some students have no reliable access to food once the school cafeteria doors close. That weekend gap leaves kids tired, distracted, and worried when they should be resting and recharging.

In a region where thousands of neighbors are projected to be food insecure—and a heartbreaking number of them are children—that gap is not a small problem. It affects how children feel, how they behave, and how well they can learn. The BackPack program for schools is one way our community steps into that gap, sending kids home on Fridays with food they can count on until they return to the classroom.

What is the BackPack Program?

At its core, the BackPack Program is a partnership between the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore and local schools to provide child-friendly, shelf-stable food to students who are at higher risk of weekend hunger.

School staff—often counselors, teachers, or nurses—identify students who regularly come to school hungry, mention empty cupboards at home, or show other signs of food insecurity. The Foodbank prepares bags of food designed for children to carry and use independently. Those bags are tucked discreetly into backpacks on Friday so students can take food home without being singled out. The goal is simple: when children return on Monday, they come back fed, steadier, and ready to learn rather than recovering from two days of hunger.

How the  BackPack Program Works

Behind each of those bags is a careful system. The BackPack Program starts at the Foodbank’s warehouse, where staff and volunteers pack thousands of portions for students across the service area. Food is purchased, then sorted and packed with consistent standards so every child receives a reliable mix of items.

Once bags are ready, they are delivered to participating schools. On campus, a small team—often a counselor and a trusted staff member—manages distribution. Weekend food bags for students are slipped into backpacks during a quiet part of the day so no one feels exposed or embarrassed. The coordination among the Foodbank, school staff, and volunteers keeps it running week after week.

What Goes Inside the BackPack?

Many students may not have a working stove, consistent refrigeration, or an adult available to cook, so the food needs to be nutritious, ready-to-eat, and easy to open.

A typical weekend bag might include a balance of:

• Proteins: Pop-top cans of tuna or chicken, peanut butter, or beans.
• Grains: Whole-grain cereal, oatmeal packets, or granola bars.
• Fruits and vegetables: Fruit cups in 100% juice, applesauce, or shelf-stable vegetable cups.
• Dairy: Shelf-stable milk boxes or similar substitutes.
• Simple entrées: Items like microwaveable pasta, soup, or chili that a child can prepare with minimal help.

There are about 6 meals per bag, giving children enough steady fuel to maintain energy and focus throughout the weekend.

The Impact: Why Weekend Food Bags for Students Matter

The impact of the BackPack program for schools shows up quickly in classrooms. Hunger does not just cause a rumbling stomach; it affects concentration, memory, and behavior. Teachers often see a clear difference on Monday mornings between students who had enough to eat over the weekend and those who did not.

When students consistently receive weekend food bags, schools report fewer Monday morning nurse visits for headaches or stomach aches, fewer behavior incidents linked to irritability or fatigue, and better overall participation. Children who know there will be food at home worry less and engage more. Over time, that stability supports better attendance, stronger academic performance, and healthier social connections with classmates.

More Than a BackPack Giveaway

Many community groups hold school-supply drives in late summer so students can start the year with new notebooks and backpacks. Those events are valuable, but they are different from a BackPack food program.

The Foodbank’s BackPack program is not a one-time event tied to the first day of school. It is an ongoing commitment that follows students through the entire school year, filling a gap that school breakfast and lunch programs cannot cover. Weekend hunger does not end after September, and neither does the need for this kind of support.

How You Can Support the BackPack Food Program

You don’t have to work in a school to help keep the program running. The BackPack food program depends on community support to stay stocked and running.

Give financially: Because the Foodbank can purchase food in bulk at wholesale prices, monetary donations go a long way. A single gift can help fill several weekend bags; a recurring monthly gift can support a child throughout the school year. You can make a secure donation through the Foodbank’s “Give Help” page.

Volunteer: Packing backpacks is a hands-on way to see the program in action. Volunteers help sort food, assemble bags, and prepare deliveries to schools across Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Upcoming volunteer opportunities are listed on the Foodbank’s website.

Spread the word: Many neighbors are surprised to learn how many children in their own zip codes rely on school meals and weekend support. Sharing accurate information about the BackPack program for schools, talking with your faith community or workplace about hosting a fundraiser, or inviting the Foodbank to speak at an event all help keep childhood hunger visible and addressable.

Every Child Deserves a Hunger-Free Weekend

No child in our region should spend the weekend worrying about food. The BackPack program for schools turns that belief into action, one discreet bag at a time. It gives students a more stable foundation for learning, growing, and simply being kids.

Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or help connect your local school with the Foodbank, your support strengthens this lifeline for children across Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. To learn more about the BackPack food program, find help, or get involved, visit the Foodbank’s Get Help and Give Help pages and take the next step in supporting students in your community.