For many Portland children, the federally-sponsored school lunch is their main source for a nutritious, satisfying meal during the day. If there’s not enough food in the house, these children can go hungry on the weekend when the school lunch isn’t available.
Backpack Lunch volunteers pack two weekend lunches each Friday into the backpacks of Portland schoolchildren at risk of hunger on the weekend. We invite you to help us sustain and expand our ability to feed hungry schoolchildren in our midst.
How you can help:
• Donate food for weekend lunches
• Volunteer to help pack or deliver lunch bags
• Make a monetary donation
Food items to donate:
cans of chili, soup, ravioli in meat sauce, cans/boxes of mac n’ cheese
small juice boxes—100% juice only, no foil containers
individual-size fruit cups
granola bars, raisins or fruit snacks; oatmeal cups, small packages of crackers w/cheese or peanut butter
Contact King NA for pick-up of items – backpack@kingneighborhood.org – or bring them to a KNA monthly meeting!
Monetary donations
The Backpack Lunch Program is an all volunteer program — there are no paid staff. If you wish to make a monetary donation, make check out to NECN-KNA. Please write “Backpack Donation” on the check and mail to King NA, 4815 NE 7th Avenue, Portland, 97212. $100 sponsors a school-year of weekend lunches for one child. Each donation, regardless of amount, is important.
