No Child Goes Hungry (NCGH) is pleased to provide a $1,000 donation to Hunger Fight’s Feed the Backpack program. Founded in 2012 and based in Jacksonville, Florida, Hunger Fight is a 501(C)3 nonprofit agency that began its operations by producing and distributing flavorful and nutritious shelf-stable meals that are easy to prepare in boiling water to food-insecure individuals. Today, its Feed the Backpack program provides weekend nutrition to children enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Plan program. Its four-serving, nutritionally balanced meals deliver the vitamins and nutrients necessary for a child to return to school ready to learn. The cost of the meal packs is only $1.25 per serving.
The Feed the Backpack program provides a stop-gap to children that receive their most stable and consistent meals from school. It allows school staff to place healthy, weekend meals in students; backpacks every Friday during the school year.
Over 29 percent of all Duval County children live in poverty and participate in the National School Lunch program. Currently, 19 elementary schools receive meals every week from Hunger Fight, providing 6,105 children with food for the weekend. Hunger Fight also partners with other feeding programs, particularly during the summer months, to supplement food programs at 40 additional schools as requested.
Hunger Fight’s goal is to make an impact on some of the poorest and neediest areas of its community. Studies show that early access to nutrition and books can provide a platform for academic success later in life. The program is dependent upon the monetary support of corporations and individuals who believe in the organization’s mission.
A representative from Hunger Fight shared that the community need has never been higher as it is now due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, requests for food assistance have grown exponentially, and they show no sign of slowing, a trend reflective of the impact of the virus and the resulting loss of employment, lengthy furloughs, and the overall disruption to what was our normal way of life.
According to Kären Rasmussen, No Child Goes Hungry Founder and Executive Director, schools are crucial lynchpins in the battle against childhood hunger.
“I applaud Hunger Fight and their relentless effort to ensure our children have food in their bellies every day of the week,” said Rasmussen. “We are pleased to support Hunger Fight’s Feed the Backpack Program and the critical and inspiring work they are doing to battle food insecurity.”
To learn how NCGH can help support your local hunger advocacy initiative, contact us today.