The Foodbank launched this highly successful program in 2006 to target children who are homeless or living in transient housing and are at high risk for malnutrition.  During the school year, they receive free lunches and snacks, but they must fend for themselves on the weekend, when food is scarce and traditional emergency food sources are not available. 

Every Thursday hundreds of back packs are filled with ready-to-eat, nutritious foods such as peanut butter, fresh fruit, bottled water, 3 oz cans of pop-top of tuna fish, and other easy to prepare meals.  On Fridays, the assembled backpacks are delivered to children in transistional living situations and provide six healthy meals for the weekend.  On Mondays, the backpacks are brought back and the whole process begins again.  Currently, the Foodbank supports BackPack Program distributions in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta Lompoc, Santa Maria, and New Cuyuma.  

Each backpack weighs about 10 pounds.  One young recipient was overheard saying, “It’s heavy, but it’s a good heavy.”

_____________________________________________

Backpack Program Sponsors