For many children the free meals that they eat at school are their only reliable source of food. Portland Backpack partners with 15 Portland area public schools to put a weekend meal sack directly into the hands of kids who don't have enough food on the weekends.
What We Do
Countless studies have shown that stress and worry caused by food insecurity limits a child’s ability to learn, impacts their health and can cause behavioral issues for them at school and within their families. Portland Backpack has a simple solution: put food directly into kids’ hands. Portland Backpack provides over 30,000 food sacks across 15 Portland public elementary schools yearly and our program doesn’t stop when the school year ends. In partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation: Lunch and Play Program, we put food sacks into the hands of 400 kids each Friday in four parks across Portland all summer.
What We Need
- Administrative Support/Clerical
- Building/Construction
- Cleaning
- Collecting/Sorting/Packaging
- Consulting/Professional Services
- Event Organizing
- Food Preparation/Meal Services
- Fundraising/Campaigning
- Painting
- Public Relations/Marketing
Opportunities
- In person: One-time
- In person: Ongoing
- Virtual: One-time
- Virtual: Ongoing
Portland Backpack is our ally. The program helps us build relationships with our students which are essential for learning. A child who is hungry doesn't listen when you say that learning is important.
Get in Touch With Portland Backpack
Please fill out this form or contact us directly.
Our Headquarters
Portland Backpack
6600 NE 78th Ct Ste C4
Portland, OR 97218
United States
Please note that depending on role, volunteers may work at other locations and/or at other times. Contact our volunteer coordinator to find the best fit for you.