OUR STORY

Backpack Buddies began in 2017 with a group of volunteers who gathered weekly to pack food for children who faced hunger on the weekends when they did not have access to school meals.   These dedicated volunteers partnered with one local elementary school to provide nutritious meals and snacks.  The group delivered bags filled with non-perishable food to the school guidance counselor, who discreetly sent 10 children home with enough food in their backpacks to last them through the weekend. 

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Backpack Buddies quickly expanded, nourishing dozens of students every weekend across Metro Atlanta.  Incorporated and receiving our 501(c)(3) in 2022, Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta completed its inaugural 2022-2023 school year by feeding roughly 800 children every weekend across 27 schools and established a headquarters with warehouse space.  In April, 2025, Backpack Buddies reached a huge milestone - serving our 1 Millionth Meal!  During the 2025–2026 school year, with the support of hundreds of volunteers and 34 churches, synagogues, senior centers, and other community organizations, our valued “Community Buddies”, we expanded to serve 2,625 children every week across more than 50 Title I schools. In the 2026–2027 school year, we reached another milestone, expanding our program to provide weekend meals to 3,000 children every week across more than 50 Title I schools.

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As Backpack Buddies continues to grow, so does our need for more donors, volunteers, and organizations to join us in closing the weekend hunger gap for children across Metro Atlanta.