Every Friday, a team of Transitions Academy students travels to the district’s Central Supply building where they help fill backpacks with shelf-stable foods such as dry rice, canned vegetables, tuna, instant potatoes, and many other nourishing foods.
Once filled, these backpacks are delivered by district staff to every HPS school. From there, the prepared bags are moved to a convenient location so students who have signed up for the Weekend Backpack Program can grab them discreetly as they leave school on Friday afternoons.
“Having access to these shelf-stable foods each weekend makes a huge difference for many of our students,” said food service manager Toni Tirozzi. “We know they have had healthy food to eat over the weekend and can return to school on Mondays nourished and ready to keep learning.”
Interest in the program continues to rise. In early September, HPS had 54 students sign up for weekly backpacks. By mid January, that number had increased to 184, Ms. Tirozzi said, and the program could accommodate more students if additional requests come in.
The program got a recent boost with a $1,000 grant from Sodexo—the district’s food service provider—which will allow Ms. Tirozzi to supplement weekend backpacks with boxed juices, granola bars, and other kid-friendly treats purchased way below retail cost from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee.
Typically, the district relies on shelf-stable foods provided by the Food Bank at no cost to participating schools. “These grant funds will allow us to purchase some additional items over the next few months that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide,” she said.
HPS families experiencing food insecurity are encouraged to contact their school’s Family and Community Engagement team member, who can help them sign up for weekend backpacks and connect them with other resources, as well.