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BACKPACK BUDDIES

Volunteers Packing Food

Program Overview

Backpack Buddies is a weekend feeding program that serves public school students who are at risk for food insecurity in Shelby County, Alabama.

Who We Serve

Backpack Buddies serves over 1,400 public school children, ages 5-18,      weekly in these locations:

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  • Alabaster City Schools

  • Pelham City Schools

  • Shelby County Schools

  • Day Program

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Our Target Audience​

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  • Free or reduced meal recipients

  • Experiencing homelessness or transitional housing

  • In crisis or trauma situations

  • In a single parent home

  • Has a history of food insecurity

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How Buddies Are Selected

  • A needs assessment by school professionals (i.e. school counselors, teachers, and administrative staff)

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  • Families can fill out an assistance request form through our agency (links below).

Criteria for Needs Assessment

Food insecurity indicators in children, such as:

  • Poor school performance

  • Behavior that demonstrates food insecurity

  • Physical characteristics that demonstrate food insecurity

  • ​Adverse home environment

  • Homeless/transitional housing issues

Child Food Insecurity Information

Click the PDF button below for the full informational brochure about child food insecurity.

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How Our Program Stands Out

  • Generous Portions: Buddy Bags average about five pounds worth of food, drinks, and snacks.

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  • Quality Brands: We aim to provide quality items that we would use to feed our own children.

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  • Statistics: We require data feedback from each school in order to better understand the demographics of those being assisted.

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  • Community: Our packing parties are designed to be family-friendly and a way for anyone and everyone to serve those in need.

Program Outcomes

Click the image below for the full Backpack Buddies statistics flyer for the 2023-2024 school year.

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Get Involved

Packing Party Dates for School Year 2025-2026

2025

2026

September 6

October 4

November 1

December 6

January 3

February 7

March 7

April 4

In-Kind Donations

BackPack Buddies Student Food

Click the PDF button below for full informational flyer:​​

BackPack Buddies Family Emergency Boxes

Click the PDF button below for full informational flyer:​​

BackPack Buddies Hygiene Kits

Click the PDF button below for full informational flyer:​​

BACKPACK BUDDIES SPONSORS

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Alabama Credit Union

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Chelsea Church of God

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Community Baptist Church

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Cornerstone Christian School

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Crosscreek Baptist
Church

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First Christian Church of Birmingham

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Helena United Methodist Church

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Meadow Brook
Baptist Church

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Montevallo First
United Methodist Church

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North Shelby Baptist Church

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Valleydale
Church

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Westwood
Baptist Church

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Wilsonville
Baptist Church

"Food insecurity and hunger damage the architecture of children's brains, and that makes it extremely difficult for them to ever reach their full potential as effective workers and members of society. American business leaders have the means and ingenuity to prevent this from happening. By doing that, and ending child food insecurity and hunger, they can ensure a prosperous future for us all." 
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- Jack P. Shonkoff, MD, Harvard University School of Public Health
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