Backpacks for Kids

The Backpacks for Kids Food Program helps feed children from financially struggling homes and has been serving South Kitsap families since 2007. Each week a team of volunteers at First Christian Church fill more than 350 backpacks with food. Many students in the South Kitsap School District rely on free or reduced price meals at their school. For some, these are the most nutritious meals they receive. For others, they are the only meals they receive all day. Some of these students have little or nothing to eat at home.

Each week, packs are filled with practical, shelf stable, kid friendly foods. These packs are then delivered to the schools, where school staff confidently and discreetly distribute them.

Backpacks for Kids delivers nearly 10,000 packs per school year and each pack costs $5.50 to produce.

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Program Details

A large number of children in the South Kitsap School District rely on free or reduced price lunches at their schools. For some of these kids, this is the most nutritional meal they receive all day. For others, it is the only meal they receive all day. Some of these children have little to no food to eat at home.

Backpacks for Kids is an organization out of First Christian Church that works with the South Kitsap School District to provide food for these children over the weekends. Each week, packs are filled with practical, shelf stable and kid friendly foods. These packs are then delivered to the schools, where staff confidentially and discreetly distribute them. Programs such as this have been shown to increase attendance, decrease behavior problems, improve concentration abilities and improve academic achievement.

Program Facts

• Our average school year delivery is 350 packs per week.
• It costs about $5.50 to fill each pack.
• We are always seeking food and monetary donations.

We have very carefully chosen the food for each pack. Therefore, we ask that all food donations match items that are on this list. Every pack is filled with the
following items: 2 instant oatmeal packs, 2 ramen noodles, 2 boxes of macaroni & cheese, 2 canned tuna, 1 pudding cup, 1 granola bar, 1 trail mix.

Watch the video

Offer Your Support

Donate financially through the South Kitsap Rotary here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GMS5S92KYHNL8

There are three drop off locations in Port Orchard where you can donate supplies.

On Sundays
Sidney Glen Elementary Commons, 4885 SW Hovde Rd, Port Orchard
Monday-Friday
Trina Knoche Farmer's Insurance, 104 Tremont Street #200, Port Orchard
Kitsap RACC, 1730 SE Mile Hill Dr Suite 100, Port Orchard