This program provides sacks of food to children who are in jeopardy of not having enough to eat during the weekend. The program is a cooperative effort between the Junior League of Athens and the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. JLA provides funding for the project, food drives, volunteers to stuff the sacks, and delivery to the schools in Clarke County where children are in need.

The Food Bank purchases food, stores it, and provides an area for volunteers to stuff the food sacks.

The sacks have approximately 5-7 lbs of food that will be enough for two days. Examples of food items include:

fresh fruit, ravioli in a pop-top can, sleeve of saltine crackers, applesauce, fruit cup, cereal, shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, apple juice, trail mix...all kid-friendly items that do not require cooking.

The program began modestly by providing weekly food sacks to children of homeless families and the children of students in the Classic City High School. Over 3,200 food sacks are delivered each school year, but the demand is tremendous and plans are to expand. Five of the district's 13 elementary schools have more than 90 percent of their students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

We need your help. Please volunteer, donate, or sponsor this program to bring food to children who arrive to school Monday morning ravenously hungry because they have had little to no food at home during the weekend. These kid-friendly sacks of food ensure nutrition and health over the weekend for these kids.