Backpack Buddy Receives Grant From "Hunger Is"
Friday, May 20, 2016
By: Misty Robertson

The Houston Food Bank's Backpack Buddy program has received an $85,000 grant from "Hunger Is" to help solve childhood hunger.

This grant from Hunger Is will help provide healthy food to chronically hungry children who might otherwise go without food during weekends and holidays. The Houston Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy program discreetely distributes backpacks filled with nutritious food to 10,000 children each week in nearly 600 schools. A typical backpack contains enough food for two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and two healthy snacks, as well as low-fat shelf-stable milk and fruit juice.

“The Randalls Foundation Hunger Is grant will provide 309,090 kid-friendly meals. By quieting hunger pangs today, Randalls is investing in the future of our most vulnerable population. Children need good nutrition in order to learn and grow into productive adults.  The Houston Food Bank is grateful for Randalls steadfast partnership in hunger relief,” said Brian Greene, President, Houston Food Bank.

The Houston Food Bank, one of 79 organizations selected across the U.S., was invited by Hunger Is to respond with approaches to increase access to free and reduced-cost school breakfast, to improve the nutritional quality of breakfast programs, and to expand weekend, summer and vacation feeding  programs. Hunger Is, the joint charitable initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) featuring Emmy Award®-winning actress and Hunger Is Ambassador Viola Davis, raised more than $2.5 million in the first Hunger Is fall season fundraiser, which took place in September in the Albertsons Companies stores throughout the U.S.  The fundraiser generated donations through customer purchase of participating products in more than 2,200 stores throughout 33 states, as well as customer donations at the check stand. To date, Hunger Is has raised $12.5 million and awarded over 230 grants.