As the school year approaches, the San Diego Food Bank is relaunching one of its most impactful programs for elementary students: the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.
Entirely donor-funded, the program provides weekend food packages to 3,700 children at over 90 Title I elementary schools, where at least 80% of students receive free or reduced-price meals. These backpacks help ensure children don’t go hungry when school cafeterias close for the weekend.
Each package is hand-packed by volunteers and filled with kid-friendly, shelf-stable and nutritionally balanced items. The contents are thoughtfully selected to be allergy-conscious and easy to open, helping students feel confident and cared for. Once a month, a larger “family pack” includes multi-serving staples like pancake mix and pasta for families to cook and share together.
“The program is life-changing for many of our students,” says Katie Dinh, a second grade teacher at Harriet Tubman Village Charter School. “Hunger shouldn’t be a barrier to learning.”
The impact goes beyond nutrition. Students light up when receiving their backpacks — some peek inside right away, while others carry them home proudly, understanding the value of what they’ve been given. For working families, the relief is equally significant.
“Weekends can be tough,” Katie says. “This support eases that burden and shows families that their school community cares.”
Thanks to generous supporters, the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program continues to feed young minds and bodies — nurturing academic success and emotional well-being.
