Erasing hunger one backpack at a time
Members of Fox Chapel Area High School’s Community Outreach group packed bags of toiletries for distribution to the community in conjunction with Backpack For Hunger.
Fox Chapel Area School District and its community are working together to make sure no student goes hungry on the weekend. Backpack for Hunger is a cooperative program between the Fox Chapel schools, local congregations and individuals to provide weekend care bags of nutritious food for area children. The nonprofit organization relies on donations to purchase the items and volunteers deliver the bags to Fox Chapel schools on designated days. As Backpack for Hunger is an anonymous program, guidance counselors, nurses and staff distribute the bags to the students and only the designated school personnel know the recipients. Inside each weekend bag is two breakfast items, two lunch items, two fruits and vegetables, three additional protein sources and two snack items. Other necessities, such as toiletry items, are also distributed to those in need through this organization.
During the pandemic, more than 10,000 meals were handed out by Backpack for Hunger volunteers in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Second Harvest and Fox Families Care. In August the organization partnered with several other organizations to provide school supplies, haircuts and more to students and their families at a special back-to-school event. Currently, bags of non-perishable food are available to community members at locations around the area and at Fox Chapel schools.
