We believe that when a child is fed, they are equipped to learn, grow, and imagine a future filled with opportunity. Childhood hunger remains a serious challenge in our region. During the school year, more than 35,000 children across North Dakota depend on free and reduced-price school meal programs to meet their daily nutritional needs. But when school doors close for the weekend, many of these children face empty cupboards at home.
The BackPack Program helps fill that gap.
Through partnerships with nearly 100 elementary, middle, and high schools across North Dakota and Clay County, MN, we provide children with a discreet, easy-to-carry bag of kid-friendly food to take home each Friday.
These bags typically include items such as shelf-stable milk, protein-rich foods, whole grains, and simple meals which gives children reliable access to food when other resources may be limited.
School staff help identify students who may be facing food insecurity. Participation is confidential, and bags are typically placed directly in students’ backpacks so they can take them home without stigma. For many children, this small bag of food means returning to school on Monday ready to learn.
Hunger among children can have lifelong consequences. Food insecurity affects physical, emotional, and developmental health. Children experiencing hunger are more likely to face illness, struggle academically, and experience long-term challenges that follow them into adulthood. But with support from our community, we can change that trajectory.