What started with a mission to feed hungry children on the weekends has now passed a major milestone: 1 million meals served.
Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta, a valued partner of Midwest Food Bank Georgia, provides nutritious, kid-friendly weekend meals to over 2,500 food-insecure children each week—children who often rely on school breakfasts and lunches but face hunger once the weekend begins.
Through partnerships with 50 Title 1 schools and 37 local organizations, known as “Community Buddies,” the program delivers food bags every Friday, filled with six complete meals, to bridge the weekend gap. These bags are packed and distributed with the help of a large, dedicated volunteer team.
“Every task—big or small—directly impacts a child’s well-being,” shared a staff member. “Knowing that makes the work feel purposeful every single day.”
That sense of purpose is echoed by the community. Over 2,000 volunteers contribute their time, whether by working in the warehouse, driving the delivery truck, packing bags, or serving on committees. It’s a wide-reaching, hands-on effort powered entirely by people who believe that no child should go hungry—no matter the day of the week.
The impact is deeply felt, even if the program is anonymous by design. While staff never know the names of the children served, the gratitude still finds its way back.
One mother wrote, “As a single mom with low income and no food stamp assistance, these bags help ease my grocery budget—and my daughter eats and likes the food.”
Another note from a fifth grader brought smiles all around:
“The snacks and foods are so good that me and my friend started arguing over the beef pasta. Don’t worry, we settled it!”
Midwest Food Bank plays a crucial role in keeping those bags filled. The partnership provides shelf-stable, nutritious ingredients that allow Backpack Buddies to reliably deliver meals that are balanced, kid-approved, and easy to prepare. This consistency helps the team maintain their weekly delivery goals—and plan for even greater impact.
“We’re proud to work with Midwest Food Bank,” the team said. “Their support means we can feed children not just this week but every week.”
Now, with their one millionth meal behind them, Backpack Buddies is already focused on what’s ahead: serving the next million, one weekend at a time.
