The Athens Drive Backpack Buddies Program serves students in our school who do not have access to sufficient food outside of school. This program provides a bag of nutritious food on Fridays to assure students have meals over the weekend. Although this is not a PTSA program, the PTSA has committed to sponsoring one week a month to provide food and pack-up bags for our students in need.
Backpack Meals Checklist
| Breakfast (TWO Total) | Instant Oatmeal Individual Boxes of Cereal Pop Tarts Granola Bars Protein Bars Muffins |
| Lunch/Dinner* (FIVE total needed) | Soup (hearty) Spaghetti-Os Easy Mac Ramen noodles Hormel Meals Chef Boyardee Tuna Fish cans/ pouches/kits Chicken Breast Cans Beanie Weenies Vienna Sausages |
| Snacks (TWO total) | Peanut butter crackers Cheese crackers Pretzels/chips Popcorn Applesauce Trail mix Individual peanut butter packs Fruit cups (individual, plastic packed) |
| OPTIONAL ADDITIONS: | Veggie cups (individual plastic cups, such as Libby’s) Small size canned vegetables (tab open) Side items such as Individual Minute Rice Fresh fruit (apples or oranges) Juice boxes/Capri Sun Shelf stable milk |
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Please make sure at least one of the lunch or dinner options for each day is substantial. For example, ramen noodles for lunch, tuna for dinner.
- When possible, complete meals are great (i.e. tuna kits versus just tuna)
- When possible, vary items and include fresh/healthier but kid-friendly options
- Be mindful students have to carry these bags home, so avoid giving all bulky items, such as heavy cans. Don’t make them too heavy!
ITEMS TO AVOID:
- Broth or cooking soups (ex: cream of mushroom)
- Cans of black beans, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans
- Items that require additional ingredients (ex: Hamburger Helper)
- Oversized cans
- Items that require a can opener (tab-open is always preferred)