Backpack Programs for Harrisonburg Families
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Harrisonburg Education Foundation is working to assist community-driven backpack programs. Each program is unique in responding to their school communities needs. However, HEF feels that there is an opportunity for programs new and old to share knowledge and connections. In the spring of 2021, HEF worked with existing programs to launch the Backpack Coalition. If you are interested in learning more, HEF would be happy to connect you with other coordinators. Simply email hef@harrisonburg.k12.va.us and we will introduce you.
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What is a backpack program?
The Backpack Program is a supplemental weekend food program for school children in need. These bags contain a
combination of foods ready for consumption by children and other groceries for meals to be prepared by adults.
Why is it important?
Who and how can a backpack program run?
Anyone can run a Backpack Program with adequate support. There are PTOs, community service groups and faith-
based organizations that run Backpack Programs in our local city and county schools. These groups often serve as
the “money manager” and are registered with the IRS as a non-profit. This designation encourages donors to
make contributions with confidence that their money is supporting a charitable cause. The money manager often
invests in the program with both their money and volunteers. Organizations also use their network to help
advocate for the school to the larger community. This partnership provides critical stability to any Backpack
Program.
Backpack Programs can also partner with local food agencies for support. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and their
partner agencies, such as Hope Distributed, can provide steeply discounted food for bags to local programs.
Backpack Programs extend the reach of these food service agencies to children. These partnerships are eagerly
welcomed. The financial benefits of the partnership also maximize the financial resources of the Backpack
Program, increasing the number of children served.
What costs are associated with the programs?
The price of a Backpack Program depends on the number of children being served and the contents of the bags you are providing. For example, Keister Elementary has provided bags for a little as $2.00 per child, per week, when funds were low. Ideally, having $4 to $5 for each bag per week can provide a greater variety of healthy foods. Calculating the number of bags per week times the cost times the number of weeks you plan to serve can give a very quick estimate of your fundraising goal. Some schools provide bags over the summer months. Talk with your school administrators about whether or not this is feasible.
What are some of the roles the school can play?
Your school staff and administrators can give the best estimates for the number of children that need help from a
Backpack Program. After school staff compile a list of students recommended for the program, the families sign a
permission form to participate. The permission form also asks for information on foods that are avoided, for both
allergies and religious observances. Asking if the family has a can opener and microwave is also a good idea. The
purchasing, pickup and packing of food should be managed by volunteers. Often, schools will ask for assistance
from volunteers to distribute the packed bags to classrooms throughout the school.
A school can also house the food pantry and bagging area if they have the space. At Keister, the food was stored in the corner on the cafeteria stage. This can streamline the logistics of distributing the bags, as they do not have to be moved to the school from an outside location.
The coordinators and volunteers logistically manage Backpack Programs. School staff and administrators are
unable to become heavily involved in Backpack Programs because of their everyday job obligations.
What are some of the roles community volunteers can play?
Community volunteers are critical to the success of Backpack Programs! The most successful and long-lasting
programs have a strong network of community support. From donations of money, food and time, to advocacy
and logistical management, community volunteers are the only way a Backpack Program can thrive.
How does HCPS Nutrition program complement this effort?
The HCPS Nutrition program offers tremendous support to our families in need and they coordinate with BRAFB
for additional opportunities. Despite their hard work, many families still struggle. As our Backpack Programs are
community supported, we are able aid them in their effort without additional cost or time to our school system.
Backpack Programs can pair offerings with the food services offered by HCPS, assisting families on the weekends,
holidays and summer vacation months.
How do groups partner with Hope Distributed and BRAFB?
Contact Hope Distributed or BRAFB directly to find out what opportunities exist for your Backpack Program.
Programs that partner with Hope Distributed sign contracts agreeing to pick up and pay for food that is ordered,
when those fees are applicable. Hope Distributed offers food at steep discounts, up to 70-90% less than retail
grocery prices. Some items offered are donations and cost almost nothing at all. Contact with Blue Ridge Area
Food Bank is beneficial, as they will notify you about special opportunities. For example, they plan to offer
“summer food packs” for children at zero cost. These are pre-packaged 20 pound boxes of shelf stable food, which
they will deliver to the schools.
What could a Backpack Coalition in Harrisonburg look like? What would be most helpful?
A Coalition’s primary objective is to mutually support the efforts of every existing and incipient Backpack
Program in the Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Our school system’s most financially vulnerable
student populations are more likely to move between school districts, which is why our Backpack
Programs need to be strong system-wide. These successful programs will be built on collaboration.
Regular communication with quarterly meetings would give program coordinators and volunteers the
opportunity to discuss challenges and share collective knowledge. These meetings would also provide
volunteers a better understanding of poverty and food insecurity from a city-wide perspective. This
understanding will enable the programs to work collaboratively on advocacy and fundraising.
Through strong communication and joint advocacy, we can work to build greater support from our
broader community for every needy child in every school.
The Backpack Program is a supplemental weekend food program for school children in need. These bags contain a
combination of foods ready for consumption by children and other groceries for meals to be prepared by adults.
Why is it important?
- Bags go home with children who otherwise may not have enough to eat on the weekend.
- Children facing food scarcity often have other challenges in the home. As community members, we have limited ways to make a direct impact on vulnerable kids. However, we CAN help remove the burden of food scarcity.
- Food insecurity creates chronic stress for children, impacting their ability to learn and achieve academically. By ensuring that there is adequate food in the home, we help mitigate this developmentally detrimental obstacle.
- Hunger can cause children to be distracted or disruptive. The Backpack Program helps the entire school’s learning environment.
- Backpack Programs bags are received with gratitude by the families in need. For families and children that are struggling, this assistance is reassuring and encouraging.
- Meeting a student’s basic physical needs is a division-wide objective, as stated in the current HCPS Strategic Plan
- Backpack Programs are high impact for the time and money they cost to implement. Without any paid employees, 100% of donations fund the needs of children. Every hour of work directly benefits the children. There are very few programs that do so much with such a small investment.
- The Backpack Program benefits our teachers. Friday departures can be difficult, as many teachers worry about their students for a variety of reasons over the weekend. Teachers appreciate when their parent community is able to understand and take actions to help the most vulnerable kids. In this way, the Backpack Program emotionally supports our educators as well.
Who and how can a backpack program run?
Anyone can run a Backpack Program with adequate support. There are PTOs, community service groups and faith-
based organizations that run Backpack Programs in our local city and county schools. These groups often serve as
the “money manager” and are registered with the IRS as a non-profit. This designation encourages donors to
make contributions with confidence that their money is supporting a charitable cause. The money manager often
invests in the program with both their money and volunteers. Organizations also use their network to help
advocate for the school to the larger community. This partnership provides critical stability to any Backpack
Program.
Backpack Programs can also partner with local food agencies for support. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and their
partner agencies, such as Hope Distributed, can provide steeply discounted food for bags to local programs.
Backpack Programs extend the reach of these food service agencies to children. These partnerships are eagerly
welcomed. The financial benefits of the partnership also maximize the financial resources of the Backpack
Program, increasing the number of children served.
What costs are associated with the programs?
The price of a Backpack Program depends on the number of children being served and the contents of the bags you are providing. For example, Keister Elementary has provided bags for a little as $2.00 per child, per week, when funds were low. Ideally, having $4 to $5 for each bag per week can provide a greater variety of healthy foods. Calculating the number of bags per week times the cost times the number of weeks you plan to serve can give a very quick estimate of your fundraising goal. Some schools provide bags over the summer months. Talk with your school administrators about whether or not this is feasible.
What are some of the roles the school can play?
Your school staff and administrators can give the best estimates for the number of children that need help from a
Backpack Program. After school staff compile a list of students recommended for the program, the families sign a
permission form to participate. The permission form also asks for information on foods that are avoided, for both
allergies and religious observances. Asking if the family has a can opener and microwave is also a good idea. The
purchasing, pickup and packing of food should be managed by volunteers. Often, schools will ask for assistance
from volunteers to distribute the packed bags to classrooms throughout the school.
A school can also house the food pantry and bagging area if they have the space. At Keister, the food was stored in the corner on the cafeteria stage. This can streamline the logistics of distributing the bags, as they do not have to be moved to the school from an outside location.
The coordinators and volunteers logistically manage Backpack Programs. School staff and administrators are
unable to become heavily involved in Backpack Programs because of their everyday job obligations.
What are some of the roles community volunteers can play?
Community volunteers are critical to the success of Backpack Programs! The most successful and long-lasting
programs have a strong network of community support. From donations of money, food and time, to advocacy
and logistical management, community volunteers are the only way a Backpack Program can thrive.
How does HCPS Nutrition program complement this effort?
The HCPS Nutrition program offers tremendous support to our families in need and they coordinate with BRAFB
for additional opportunities. Despite their hard work, many families still struggle. As our Backpack Programs are
community supported, we are able aid them in their effort without additional cost or time to our school system.
Backpack Programs can pair offerings with the food services offered by HCPS, assisting families on the weekends,
holidays and summer vacation months.
How do groups partner with Hope Distributed and BRAFB?
Contact Hope Distributed or BRAFB directly to find out what opportunities exist for your Backpack Program.
Programs that partner with Hope Distributed sign contracts agreeing to pick up and pay for food that is ordered,
when those fees are applicable. Hope Distributed offers food at steep discounts, up to 70-90% less than retail
grocery prices. Some items offered are donations and cost almost nothing at all. Contact with Blue Ridge Area
Food Bank is beneficial, as they will notify you about special opportunities. For example, they plan to offer
“summer food packs” for children at zero cost. These are pre-packaged 20 pound boxes of shelf stable food, which
they will deliver to the schools.
- Hope Distributed: Ellen Braun, Manager, ellenb@hopedistributed.org
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: Eileen Emerson, Program Coordinator for Child Nutrition Programs, eemerson@brafb.org
What could a Backpack Coalition in Harrisonburg look like? What would be most helpful?
A Coalition’s primary objective is to mutually support the efforts of every existing and incipient Backpack
Program in the Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Our school system’s most financially vulnerable
student populations are more likely to move between school districts, which is why our Backpack
Programs need to be strong system-wide. These successful programs will be built on collaboration.
Regular communication with quarterly meetings would give program coordinators and volunteers the
opportunity to discuss challenges and share collective knowledge. These meetings would also provide
volunteers a better understanding of poverty and food insecurity from a city-wide perspective. This
understanding will enable the programs to work collaboratively on advocacy and fundraising.
Through strong communication and joint advocacy, we can work to build greater support from our
broader community for every needy child in every school.
