Wide photorealistic banner for “Food Security: The Head Start Backpack Program,” showing Kiwanis volunteers packing green food backpacks on the left and smiling children holding filled backpacks on the right, with the subtitle “Helping Ensure Kids Don’t Go Hungry on the Weekends” and Feeding America branding.

Food Security: The Head Start Backpack Program

Every Thursday at 5:00 p.m., a team of Kiwanians meets at the local Head Start facility to assemble food backpacks for 60+ children in need. While many children receive meals during the school week, weekends can be a time of uncertainty—when food support isn’t as readily available.

A group of seven people, including one woman, gathered around a table filled with various food items, including snack cups and cup noodles, while they organize the boxes.
Look at all those smiling faces!

Kiwanis provides funding for the food, with much of it purchased through Feeding America at a significant discount. The packing process runs like a friendly conveyor belt: each member adds items from organized boxes into each backpack, creating a nutritious, well-balanced set of weekend meals.

On Fridays, Head Start staff discreetly distribute the backpacks to children before they head home for the weekend.

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With Gratitude

We extend special thanks to Kiwanians Steve Simmons and Bruce Board, who have coordinated this effort for many years and frequently make the trip to Roanoke to pick up our order from Feeding America. We also want to thank the Kiwanian team members who show up regularly to pack for the kids.