• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

San Diego Food Bank

GET FOOD DONATE TODAY VOLUNTEER

  • Mobile Search
  • Programs
    • Food Programs

      • Emergency Food Assistance Program
      • North County Client Choice Pantry
      • Neighborhood Distribution Program
      • Senior Food Program
      • CalFresh Outreach Program
      • Nutrition and Wellness
      • Food 4 Kids Backpack Program
      • College Hunger Relief Program
      • Military Initiative

      Non Food Programs

      • Period Supply Program
      • Diaper Bank Program

      Agency Programs

      • Become a Partner
      • Current Partners
      • Fresh Rescue Program
      • Food to Nonprofits Program
      • Food Bank University
      • Nutrition and Wellness
  • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Individual Sign Up
    • Volunteer FAQs
  • Food Drives
    • Host a Food Drive
    • Virtual Food Drives
    • Stamp Out Hunger
    • Food and Fund Drives
    • Diaper Drive
    • Food Drive FAQs
  • Donate
    • Make a Donation
    • Tribute and Memorial Gifts
    • Donate Monthly
    • Planned Giving
    • More Ways to Give
    • Food Donation Drop Off
    • Food Industry Donations
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • San Diego Food Bank – North County
    • Hunger Facts & Research
    • Advocacy
    • Green Initiatives
    • Annual Reports & Financials
    • Community Tour Program
    • Our Supporters
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Events
    • Host an Event
    • Events Calendar
    • San Diego Food Bank Gala
    • Drive Out Hunger Golf Tournament
  • Contact Us
Emergency Food Assistence Program Hero

Food 4 Kids
Backpack Program

https://youtu.be/aVB1l0jWuXk?si=itp8Ws4Wy0USoSb5

 

The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, established in 2006, provides weekend food packages to chronically hungry elementary school students from low-income households who are at risk of hunger over the weekend when free school meals are unavailable.

Every Friday afternoon students on the program are called out of class, often to the school nurse’s office, and discretely given a bag of food which is tucked into their backpacks. Each bag contains enough food to see the students through the weekend, and the discreet distributions remove the stigma that might be attached to the program.

3,700 Students
Fed Weekly

90 San Diego County Schools Enrolled

19 School
Districts

How are children selected for the program?

School staff members identify students who display signs of chronic hunger. Warning signs include stomach aches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, hoarding food from the cafeteria, and absenteeism. Once a child has been identified as “chronically hungry,” a referral form is sent to the Food Bank and the student’s parents are sent a permission slip to enroll the student in the program.

What food items are included in the backpack?

Nutritious food items include:

  • Milk
  • Juice
  • Soup
  • Veggie chili
  • Tuna salad
  • Crackers
  • Granola
  • Mac & beef
  • Instant soup
  • Oatmeal
  • Spaghetti
  • Sauce
  • Rice
  • Canned chicken
  • Fruit bars
  • Pancake mix
  • Fruit squeezers
  • Graham crackers
CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Common Questions & Resources

Which schools are eligible to participate in the program?

Any San Diego County public school with 80% or more of the school’s student population participating in a free or subsidized school meal program can join the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.

How can my school participate in the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program?

Establishing a new site is based upon availability and funding. If you are interested in having your elementary school participate in the Backpack Program, please submit an application to the Food Bank. Your application will be reviewed and placed on a waiting list. Admittance to the program is based on funding and the order in which applications are received.

If you have any questions, concerns or want to follow up on an application that has already been submitted, please contact Makena Rutan, School-Based Program Coordinator, at MRutan@SanDiegoFoodBank.org.

How many schools are currently enrolled in the program?

More than 90 San Diego County elementary schools in 19 school districts are currently enrolled in the program. The program currently feeds 3,700 students each week at the following schools:

School Name School District
America’s Finest Charter School San Diego Unified School District
Avondale Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
Balboa Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Borrego Springs Elementary Borrego Springs Unified School District
Calvin J. Lauderbach Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Central Elementary Escondido Union School District
Cesar Chavez Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Cherokee Point Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Chollas/Meade Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Del Rio Elementary Oceanside Unified School District
Edison Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Encanto Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Fallbrook STEM Academy Elementary Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
Farr Avenue Elementary Escondido Union School District
Feaster Charter School Chula Vista Elementary School District
Felicita Elementary Escondido Union School District
Field Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Foothill Oak Elementary Vista Unified School District
Franklin Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Fred H. Rohr Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Harborside Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Harriet Tubman Village Charter San Diego Unified School District
Herbert Ibarra Elementary San Diego Unified School District
John Adams Elementary San Diego Unified School District
John Montgomery Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Joli Ann Elementary San Marcos Unified School District
Joyner Elementary School San Diego Unified School District
Juarez-Lincoln Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Kimbrough Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Horton Elementary School San Diego Unified School District
King Chavez of Excellence San Diego Unified School District
La Mirada Academy San Marcos Unified School District
Laurel Elementary Oceanside Unified School District
Libby Elementary Oceanside Unified School District
Lillian J. Rice Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Logan Memorial Educational Campus San Diego Unified School District
Los Penasquitos Elementary Poway Unified School District
Maryland Elementary Vista Unified School District
Midland Elementary Poway Unified School District
Mission Elementary Oceanside Unified School District
Oak Hill Elementary Escondido Union School District
Oak Park Music Conservatory San Diego Unified School District
Otay Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Palomar Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Perkins Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Pomerado Elementary Poway Unified School District
Potrero Elementary Mountain Empire Unified School District
Riley Elementary San Diego Unified School District
San Altos Elementary Lemon Grove School District
San Marcos Elementary San Marcos Unified School District
San Miguel Elementary Lemon Grove School District
Sherman Elementary San Diego Unified School District
Smythe Elementary San Ysidro Elementary School District
Sunset Elementary San Ysidro Elementary School District
Valencia Park San Diego Unified School District
Vallecitos Elementary Vallecitos School District
Valley Elementary Poway Unified School District
Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Vista Unified School District
Vista La Mesa Elementary Lemon Grove School District
Vista Square Elementary Chula Vista Elementary School District
Willow Elementary San Ysidro Elementary School District
How much does it cost to feed a child for a year?
  • $300 = 1 school year (36 weekends)
  • $32 = 1 month (4 weekends)
  • $8 = 1 weekend
How can I help fund a child or school on the program?

Please contact Makena Rutan, School-Based Program Coordinator, at MRutan@SanDiegoFoodBank.org for information on ways you can support the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.

Explore Other Food Bank Programs

Cal Fresh Outreach Program

LEARN MORE

Neighborhood Distribution Program

LEARN MORE

Senior Food Program

LEARN MORE

Need Food?

Get food assistance in your local area. The Food Bank works with nonprofits to distribute food in your area. Use our food locator to find a nonprofit in your area that can help. Click on the Find Food button below.

FIND FOOD TODAY
San Diego Food Bank: Site Footer Logo

Connect With Us

facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube

San Diego Food Bank
9850 Distribution Avenue
San Diego, CA 92121-2320
1-858-527-1419 Local
1-866-350-FOOD (3663) Toll Free
Contact Us

Hours of Operation - Miramar
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RECEIVING
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

San Diego Food Bank -
North County

3030 Enterprise Court, Suite A,
Vista, CA 92081
1-858-527-1419 Local
1-866-350-FOOD (3663) Toll Free

Hours of Operation - North County
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
RECEIVING
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

THE JACOBS AND CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. FEDERAL TAX I.D. # 20-4374795

Charity Navigator 4 Star

Privacy Policy  |  Web Accessibility  |  Site Map

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply

Copyright © 2025 San Diego Food Bank. All Rights Reserved. Designed by TinyFrog Technologies.