2025-26 School Year
The Food for Kids: School Backpack Program is built on strong partnerships with schools to ensure children facing food insecurity have reliable access to nutritious meals outside of school hours. Our success depends on clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the well-being of students.
This page outlines the responsibilities, procedures, and expectations for participating schools. These standards help us:
- Identify and support students who truly need the program
- Ensure food is stored, handled, and distributed safely
- Maintain accurate records for program evaluation and funding purposes
- Foster a collaborative, respectful working relationship
Referring Students to the Food for Kids: School Backpack Program
Not every child who says they are hungry will qualify for the backpack program. While occasional hunger between meals is normal, chronic hunger caused by food insecurity is not.
When a student mentions being hungry, start by asking if they ate breakfast. If they skipped it, determine whether it was because there was no food at home or simply because they woke up late. If they did eat breakfast, ask what they had and whether it was enough to feel full. You can also ask about dinner the night before: what they ate and whether it was enough to satisfy them. These conversations help you distinguish between normal hunger and ongoing food insecurity, which is the focus of the backpack program.
When making a referral, you must complete the internal referral form fully and thoughtfully. Include a clear, specific narrative explaining why you are referring the child, using details unique to that student’s situation. The stronger and more compelling this narrative is, the more useful it will be; not only for assessing the child’s immediate eligibility, but also for program funding and grant writing, where real, specific stories make the greatest impact. Avoid vague statements; instead, describe concrete observations, conversations, or patterns of behavior that point to food insecurity.
You will also be asked to include baseline measurements, such as academic performance, attendance, and/or behavioral indicators. These will be compared to the child’s progress at the end of the school year to help measure the program’s effectiveness. Your careful documentation now plays an important role in both helping the child and sustaining the program’s ability to serve others in the future.
Recognizing Signs of Food Insecurity
Certain physical features can sometimes point to vitamin or food deficiencies. Puffy or swollen skin may indicate a lack of protein, while extreme thinness or visible bones can signal a shortage of both protein and calories. Redness or cracking around the lips may be linked to nutritional deficiencies, and dry, itchy eyes can be a sign of inadequate vitamin A.
It’s important to remember that a child’s weight alone is not a reliable indicator of food security. Obesity can also result from poor nutrition and a diet lacking essential nutrients. Any of these physical signs should raise concern and lead to further questions about a child’s access to food.
Equally important are the things a child says. If a child reports that there is never enough food at home, that a recent meal consisted only of something like potato chips, or that they worry about having enough to eat, these are strong indicators of chronic hunger.
Food insecurity - the lack of reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food - is the primary reason for the backpack program. Any child showing these signs or expressing these concerns should be considered for participation.
Recognizing When a Child May No Longer Need the Program
Children who rely on the backpack program because of chronic hunger are usually consistent in picking up their food each week and follow the program guidelines closely. They understand the importance of having that extra food at home and make sure nothing interferes with receiving it.
When a child is no longer experiencing food insecurity, their behavior often changes. They might forget to pick up their backpack, leave food behind at school, share it on the bus, or express dissatisfaction with the items provided. These behaviors don’t automatically mean they should be removed from the program, but they are signs worth exploring.
If you notice these patterns, take time to talk with the child to better understand their home situation. Circumstances can change, and some students may no longer need the extra food support. Use your judgment, and when appropriate, you have the discretion to transition a child out of the program if their needs have been met or if the program is being misused.
Considering the Home Environment
Sometimes children will openly share details about their home life, such as a parent losing a job or a family relying on a single income. Listening to what students say, along with maintaining communication with parents, can help determine whether a child should receive a backpack each week.
For example, in a single-parent household where the parent works weekends, a child may be responsible for preparing their own meals. In this case, the backpack program could provide important support. If a parent is able to prepare meals but struggles with having enough food in the home, the family may benefit more from being referred to a food pantry.
The backpack program is intended for children who cannot get enough to eat at home due to neglect, limited resources, or other circumstances that prevent regular access to food.
Selecting Your Site Coordinator and Planning for Program Logistics
The Site Coordinator plays a central role in ensuring the backpack program runs smoothly at your school. This person serves as the primary liaison between staff, students, parents, and the program, maintains important records such as student referrals and parent permission forms, and confidentially distributes backpacks of food to approved children. They also oversee the implementation of the program and ensure compliance with all food safety standards.
When planning for the program, you’ll also need to decide what day you want food delivered to your school. An earlier delivery in the week provides more flexibility for distribution on Fridays or on early-closing days, but it requires adequate, safe food storage space. All deliveries are made through our partnership with DoorDash, meaning that individuals not directly affiliated with Community Storehouse will be bringing the food to your school. These drivers are given clear instructions on where to go and what to do upon arrival.
By choosing an organized and detail-oriented Site Coordinator, and making these logistical decisions early, you help ensure that students receive their food consistently, safely, and without disruption.
School Responsibilities & Program Procedures
Designate a Site Coordinator
Each school must appoint one Site Coordinator who is responsible for all aspects of the program, including referrals, recordkeeping, food distribution, and communication with Community Storehouse.
Complete Thorough, Accurate Referrals
All referrals must include detailed, specific narratives outlining why the child is being referred, along with baseline measurements (academic performance, attendance, behavior, etc.) for end-of-year impact review. Vague or incomplete referrals will not be accepted.
Maintain Confidentiality
All program records and the identities of participating students must remain confidential in accordance with FERPA and other applicable privacy standards. Food distribution must be discreet to avoid stigma.
Plan for Food Delivery & Storage
Schools must determine their preferred delivery day and ensure adequate, safe, and secure storage for food until distribution. If earlier deliveries are requested, proper storage space must be available.
Ensure Timely Distribution
Backpacks should be distributed before students leave for the weekend or holiday break. Distribution should be organized to ensure every approved child receives their food without delay.
Monitor Student Need
Site Coordinators should regularly monitor students in the program to ensure ongoing need.
Use Program Food as Intended
Food provided through the backpack program is for the personal use of approved students and their households only. It must not be used for classroom snacks, staff use, or other school purposes.
Foster a Respectful Partnership
Participation in the Food for Kids program is built on mutual respect and collaboration. Schools are expected to maintain a professional working relationship with Community Storehouse staff and to address any concerns directly with us. Allowing or engaging in the spread of misinformation or disparaging remarks about the program undermines our ability to serve children and may result in the school's removal from the program.
Assist in Promoting the Program
Schools are required to help offset program costs and build community support through their PTO/PTA or other school networks. This can include distributing handouts available in the main office, displaying applicable posters, hosting annual food drives, sharing program information on school social media channels, and highlighting the partnership during fundraising activities.
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