Round Up at the Register for the Backpack Coalition

From June 4-17 we will be Rounding Up at the Register for the Backpack Coalition! This means that every time you check out you can round up your total to the nearest dollar and give your extra change to this awesome local organization. You can also choose to give more than just your change at the register, and Owners can donate their points if they’d like!

To learn more about our past Round Ups visit this page on our website.

What is a Backpack Program? 

The Backpack Program is a supplemental weekend food program for school children in need. Offerings contain a combination of foods ready for consumption by children and other groceries for meals to be prepared by teenagers or adults.

Why are Backpack Programs Important?

• Food goes home with children who otherwise may not have enough to eat on the weekend.

• Backpack Programs are a key component in distributing agency food within our community in a different way.  Often, access to transportation is a challenge for financially strained families.  Some families are at work when food pantries are open or have limited access to transportation.  Backpack Programs combat this issue by sending food home with children.

• Children facing food scarcity often have other challenges in the home.  As community members, we have limited ways to make a direct impact on vulnerable kids.  However, we CAN help remove the burden of food scarcity.

How do Backpack Programs work?

All of our school programs are supported by local nonprofits (organizations or local congregations) that help fundraise and hold the funds for purchasing Backpack Program food.  Volunteers from the community pack bags every week across the city to provide weekend food for kids.  

Bluestone Elementary School & Keister Elementary School
Fiscal Agent: Trinity Presbyterian Church
725 South High Street

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Smithland Elementary School, Spotwood Elementary School & Stone Spring Elementary School
Fiscal Agent: RISE Harrisonburg
217 South Liberty Street, Ste. 203

Harrisonburg, VA  22801

Waterman Elementary School 

Fiscal Agent: Patchwork Pantry
70 South High Street

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Skyline Middle School & Thomas Harrison Middle School
Fiscal Agent: The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham
620 Simms Avenue

Harrisonburg, VA  22802

Thank you to Cody Oliver for letting us use your photography from The Citizen article about the Backpack Coalition

Want to give more? Scan the QR Code to give directly to the community partners supporting these backpack programs!