One in four children in Oklahoma lives in a household struggling to put food on the table. But thanks to the support of friends like you, we’re addressing that problem in multiple ways, including the Backpack Program.
When school is in session, the Backpack Program — part of the Food for Kids Program — provides children with a food sack full of kid-friendly, nonperishable and nutritious food on Fridays to sustain them over weekends and school holidays.
Last year, the Regional Food Bank saw a dramatic increase in the need for food assistance. In total, the Backpack Program served 19,051 chronically hungry elementary school students attending 481 schools.
The program launched in 2003 after we learned about a student who passed out while waiting in the school lunch line. Why? Because he went without food at home over the weekend.
Because of you, students throughout Oklahoma are less likely to go hungry over the weekend.
