Planet Aid is partnering with the Peabody, Massachusetts public school district to bring food to elementary students in need.
The public schools offer qualified elementary students complimentary breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, during the school year to help those families struggling to meet their family's food needs. However, many of these children leave school Friday afternoon with no expectations for meals until the Monday morning school breakfast.
To address this need for nutritious meals and snacks over the weekend, The Weekend Backpack Program was initiated in Peabody in October, 2017.
On the last day of school each week, the staff distributes weekend bags of meals, snacks, and fruit, discreetly hidden inside a regular backpack at no charge to any student who could benefit from receiving this additional food. At the end of the 2018 school year, the eight Peabody elementary schools had over 250 students receiving this weekly bag of weekend food.
Planet Aid is helping with this school year's effort by donating backpacks to the school district for the program.
If you would like to donate or help, please contact the local Planet Aid office to be put in touch with the Weekend Backpack Program.