Backpack Buddies

Join the Shearith Israel community to help provide nourishing food for economically disadvantaged children - and their families - attending local Atlanta schools. Many children in our community are dependent on the free and reduced-cost lunch programs provided by their schools during the week, and they may have very little to eat over the weekends and holidays. Backpack Buddies, a non-profit organization, was created to supply these food-insecure children with food for the weekend. In Shearith’s first year of participation, we assisted 24 children and their families. In our second year, we more than doubled the number of children and families we reached! Every week, without fail - during a pandemic! 

The Backpack Buddies program works directly with school counselors and social workers to identify children who might be at-risk for hunger. Our amazing Shearith Israel volunteers fill backpacks with nutritious foods that will sustain them when school meals are not available. We currently partner with schools in the “Grady Cluster” (elementary, middle and high schools in the Midtown school district).  

There are several ways to get involved depending on your availability and interest. This is a great way to involve multi-generations! Several of our b’nai mitzvah age congregants have even chosen to create and run food drives for Backpack Buddies as their mitzvah projects! 

Email Leah Epstein or Jason Freeman to sign-up for a volunteer slot through May 2023, or complete the form below! 

Backpack Buddies General Interest Form