Our Story
In 2017, a dedicated group of volunteers began gathering weekly at an Atlanta synagogue to pack food for hungry children. Partnering with a local elementary school, they identified 10 students reliant on the school's free breakfast and lunch program. Every Friday, bags filled with non-perishable food were discreetly delivered to the school guidance counselor, ensuring those children had enough food to last through the weekend. As word spread, more volunteers joined the cause, and Backpack Buddies quickly expanded its reach. By the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the organization was feeding approximately 800 children each weekend across 27 schools. Thanks to the support of hundreds of volunteers from 37 community organizations, Backpack Buddies now nourishes 2,500 children every weekend across 50 schools in Metro Atlanta.