SERVICES & PROGRAMS

Regional Programs

BackPack Program

Although free/reduced breakfast and lunch programs provide significant nutritional benefits to children in school, there is evidence that many disadvantaged children do not receive sufficient food when school is not in session.  The mission of the BackPack Program is to help alleviate child hunger in America by providing hungry children with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends.  The program provides backpacks filled with food that is child-friendly, shelf-stable, and easily consumed. These backpacks are discreetly distributed to the children on Friday afternoons.

Bags contain the following items, with slight variation to provide variety:
1 Box Single Serving Cereal
1 Loaf of Bread
Peanut Butter and Jelly Combo
2 Pop Top Entrees Such As:
Pre-Mixed Tuna
Canned Ravioli
1 Shelf Stable Milk (Plain)
1 Shelf Stable Milk (Chocolate)
2 Juice Boxes
2 Cereal Bars
2 Snack Packs of Cookies
1 Fresh Vegetable
1 Fresh Fruit

Read our BackPack Fact Sheet
Donate To The Back Pack Program

Currently, the Food Bank sponsors the BackPack Program at sites at the following schools:
Arbor Hill Elementary (Albany County)
Ark Community Charter School (Rensselear County)
Brighter Choice School for Boys (Albany County)
Brighter Choice School for Girls (Albany County)
Sheridan Preparatory Academy (Albany County)
Schoharie Elementary School (Schoharie County)
Warrensburg Elementary (Warren County)

For more information about the backpack program, please contact Susan Lintner, Director of Agency and Program Services at 518-786-3691 x224, or by e-mail at .