Image Source: facebook.com/foodbackpackforkids
No Child Goes Hungry (NCGH) is proud to continue supporting the Food Backpack for Kids program, which serves students in the Florence and Mapleton, Oregon, school districts. This dedicated initiative ensures that 131 identified at-risk students in grades K-12 have access to nutritious food over the weekends throughout the school year.
The program, which originally received a $1,000 grant from NCGH in 2024, was founded to address weekend hunger for children who rely on school meals during the week. In 2025, Rev. Kären Rasmussen approved a renewed funding request to help the organization meet growing demand and continue this essential work.
Each weekend, participating students receive pre-packaged bags filled with six shelf-stable meals (three for Saturday and three for Sunday), milk, fruit, snacks, and necessary utensils — a crucial addition for children from food-insecure homes who may not have access to these basic items.
The need in Florence and Mapleton is urgent. In the Siuslaw School District, 67% of students live at or below the poverty level. In the Mapleton School District, that figure rises to 86%. Local educators and administrators have seen the incredible impact of the Food Backpack for Kids program firsthand. Before its implementation, children were known to hoard food on Fridays and scavenge for leftovers on Mondays. Since the program began, these behaviors have disappeared, replaced with nourished students ready to focus on learning.
“Many people don’t realize the level of economic disparity in our communities,” said Donald Drozdenko, a representative of Food Backpack for Kids. “Some of our kids are living in vehicles or unstable housing, but this program makes sure they don’t have to worry about food, at least on weekends.”
The Food Backpack for Kids program now provides an estimated 31,440 meals annually to children in need.
“It’s clear this program is doing critical work to support kids in rural Oregon,” said NCGH Founder and Director Rev. Kären Rasmussen. “No child should worry about where their next meal is coming from. Just like us, Food Backpack for Kids is helping ensure no child goes hungry. We’re proud to help this critical organization make a tangible difference in their communities.”
To learn more about how to support weekend food programs or to apply for funding, visit No Child Goes Hungry.
#LetsFeedSomeKids