Our Weekend Backpack Program

No child should spend the weekend hungry.

For some local students, school breakfast and lunch are the most reliable meals they will see all day. Fuel for School sends those children home on Fridays with bags filled with kid-friendly, shelf-stable food – so each child can stay nourished over the weekend and return to school on Monday ready to learn.

How Fuel for School Works

1. Schools identify students who would benefit (confidentially).
2. The Newport Food Pantry packs bags with easy to prepare and ready-to-eat food – including snacks – that travel well.
3. School volunteers or staff pick up the bags and deliver to the children.

Our program runs 1-2 times per month (every other week) – and currently serves 25+ children. We would like to do more – and your support can help us do just that! We would like to run the program weekly. We would like to reach more schools – and ensure every child is well-nourished.

Help us keep bags and bellies FULL!

What We Need & How to Donate Food:

We are seeking non-perishable, healthy, snack-style items that won’t spoil – or squish in a bag. Think single-serve, pop-top, easy-open, kid-approved:

• Applesauce pouches or cups, fruit cups (in juice), or fruit chews.
• Granola, breakfast, protein, or fig bars.
• Trail mix, crackers, pretzels, popcorn, or nuts (we check for allergies).
• Peanut butter & jelly, peanut butter crackers, flavored rice cakes. Small packages / individual servings are best!
• Pasta (Chef Boyardee!) or Vienna bites or cracker / cold cut packs (shelf-stable).
• Instant oatmeal or individual cereal boxes (mini).
• Raman blocks (the cups are too bulky), pasta or tuna/chicken packs, potato and rice pouches.
• Shelf-stable milk boxes, juice boxes. (Think single-serving; 8 ounces.)
• Baked beans, chili, soups, canned tuna or chicken – pull tops are best!
• Beef, turkey, meat sticks or jerky.
• Cheese sticks (shelf-stable only).
• Pudding or yogurt cups (shelf-stable only).

Please avoid:

• Fresh fruit (it bruises and spoils)
• Glass containers
• Homemade snacks
• Candy
• Anything requiring refrigeration
• Breaking packages into “servings.” Packaging must be intact.

You can call to arrange a drop off time – or simply leave us a message and drop your donation on our front porch. (The call ensures one of our volunteers will retrieve your donation and secure it.)

Prefer to Give Funds?

Thank you! Financial gifts help us fill gaps, buy in bulk, and keep every bag consistent.

• $10 = feed one child for the weekend.
• $50 = feeds five children for the weekend – or one child for an entire month of weekends!

Our Goal: $2,000 will feed 50 children for an entire month of weekends!

We are also hoping to expand out program to several schools – and your donation can help us do just that!