For more than 15 years, our Weekend Hunger Backpack Program was a lifeline for children who otherwise might have gone hungry over the weekend. Thanks to the generosity and support of our donors and volunteers, countless students were able to return to school on Monday ready to learn, nourished and cared for.

 

The past few years have brought new challenges, changing community needs, the hardships of COVID, and the loss of critical funding. Each year, we prayerfully and carefully review our programs to ensure we are faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to us. In this review, we discovered that the Weekend Hunger Backpack Program was being duplicated by another agency, and unfortunately, the funding available was not sufficient to sustain our efforts. After thoughtful discussion, we reached out to that agency, and they agreed to fully take on the program. We are confident it will remain in good hands and continue to serve children well. 

 

At Catholic Charities, our mission to feed the hungry remains at the heart of our work. While it is never easy to say goodbye to a program that has touched so many lives, this change allows us to turn our full attention to where the need is greatest, feeding families every day through our Food Pantry and Rural Outreach Program, while also reaching some of the most vulnerable children in our rural communities, those who often have the least access to resources. By shifting our focus, we can help more parents, grandparents, and children struggling with food insecurity right now.

 

We hope you will continue to stand with us as we adapt and grow. Your support has always been the heart of this work, and together we can ensure that families across our community never have to face hunger alone.