Allie and her friend Sarah were playing in the park one afternoon. Sarah asked, "Don't you wish we didn't have to go back to school so soon?" Allie said, "I know. I wish summer lasted forever." But, deep down, Allie was relieved school was starting up again. The things that had been on her mind most of the summer revolved around when she would get to eat her next meal or if there would be food in the fridge at home. 

Allie lives with her parents. They work hard, but still struggle to make ends meet. They live on a very tight budget, which makes it difficult to put a full meal on the table. Allie told us, "Lots of kids don't like going to school, but I do. I know I will get to eat breakfast and lunch when I go to school. Plus, I get a backpack with food for the weekends." 

For many children, school meals may be the only meals they eat. What happens when they go home over the weekend? Backpack Attack fills the gap by providing local students nutritious and easy-to-prepare food for the weekends. Today, through the Backpack Attack program, food is distributed to children struggling with hunger on the weekends and long holiday breaks. Allie's situation is one of the reasons why this program is so important.

450 children right here in Douglas & Pope Counties participate the Backpack Attack program. For just $5, a child receives a bag full of food for over the weekend.