Foodlink, the food bank serving the 10 county region, has started it’s sixth “BackPack” program, part of the annual Fill the Bus campaign.
Communications manager Mark Dwyer says shoppers at area Wegmans can pick a food bag at the checkout line to donate to Foodlink.
And that donated food will go to children in Foodlink’s service area who are at risk of food insecurity.
"There are thousands of food insecure children living right here in our community. And the BackPack program impacts about three thousand kids in about 80 schools in the ten counties that we serve, just to make sure they have enough food to make it through the weekend,” he said.
Dwyer says for many students the school cafeteria is their most reliable source of food, and a weekend going hungry can have serious consequences.
“There’s certainly the risk of him not being able to concentrate, having difficulty in class, behavioral problems could stem from an empty stomach, and so we’re just trying to make sure that kids are well fed,” he said.
Foodlink’s goal is to collect over 300 pounds of food.
Around 3 thousand children at more than 80 schools will benefit from the program.
The campaign runs until September 4th.