BackPack Buddies of the Twin Counties 

A program to feed hungry children of the Twin Counties and surrounding areas.

Bring in a 8oz jar of peanut butter and/or 100% real fruit juice in boxes
and you can draw for a percentage off of a pair of frames (not combined with insurance).

Backpack Buddies is a new community-based volunteer program that will help school children who are hungry have nutritional meals available over the weekend.
The backpacks will be filled with non-perishable, kid-friendly, nutritional food given to the student Friday afternoon for the weekend and then returned the following Monday. The program is confidential.

100% of all donations go directly to the food and is tax-deductible. This program will operate through the Galax Presbyterian Church Backpack Buddies program. There are over 150 backpack programs in the USA solely operational through community volunteer support through churches, organizations, community leaders, businesses, corporations, volunteers and folks like each and every one of us!
This unique program is designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program and may not have any or enough food on the weekends. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this program.

$80 feeds a child in the program for an entire school year. Following a donation, a school is chosen and a local grocer partners with the program to provide food for meals in the backpacks. Every Friday, students receive their backpacks with staples that require little to no preparation. They return with their backpacks on Monday ready to learn.
Blessings in a Backpack is currently feeding over 10,000 children in Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, California, and New York.

The local Backpack Buddy program is responsible for obtaining the backpacks, food and delivery of backpacks. The only major responsibility from the school includes confidentially identifying which school children would benefit from this program and informing the program of the number of backpacks needed. The child's parent/guardian is sent a form in inquire if they would like for their child to participate in this program. Once the permission is attained, the Backpack Buddies program goes into action.

What are the benefits?

• Kids eating nutritious means Friday-Sunday.
• Helping families who face hunger and other issues in these touch economic times.
• Increase in attendance rates, concentration, and overall progress of each "backpack buddy" student.
• Schools knowing their community is behind them in heir efforts to help children in need.
• Communities taking care of each other, one child at a time.

If you are interested in making donations of any amount please make check payable  to Galax Presbyterian Church c/o Backpack Buddies Program
Mail checks to: Galax Presbyterian Church
Attn: Backpack buddies
P.O. Box 2
Galax, VA 24333
100% proceeds goes directly to food.