Research shows that hungry children have poorer mental and overall health, miss more days of school, suffer greater rates of behavioral disorders and are less  prepared to learn when they are in school.

With goals of helping to eliminate these life-changing effects of the children in Baytown, Backpack Buddies supplies participating schools in Goose Creek CISD with nutritious, child-friendly, self-serve food designed to fill a backpack and feed a child over the weekend.

During the 2007-2008 school year, Backpack Buddies was piloted and distributed food to approximately 300 children every Friday.  After several successful years, Backpack Buddies is now in its fifth year and has expanded the program from three to 18 schools and hopes to be in all 23 GCCISD schools this year! 

“We have experienced so much success with the backpack program and have seen tremendous strides in the lives of our children.  Parents have expressed their appreciation and it is so exciting to see the faces of the children when their backpacks are given to them…it is a phenomenal thing to witness.  We’ve seen changes in both attitudes and work habits – what a difference this program has made.”

~Ms. Sheffield, Teacher

G.W. Carver Elementary