At Eastern Oregon Mission, we believe every child deserves access to nutritious food—not just during the school week, but every day. Our Weekend Backpack Program provides children experiencing food insecurity with healthy, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks to take home each weekend throughout the school year.

Many children rely on school breakfast and lunch as their primary source of nutrition. When school lets out on Friday, some families struggle to provide enough food until Monday morning. Our Weekend Backpack Program helps bridge that gap by ensuring children have nourishing food available over the weekend, allowing them to return to school healthy, focused, and ready to learn.

How the Program Works

Eastern Oregon Mission partners with local schools to identify students who would benefit from additional weekend food support.

Each week, participating students receive a discreet backpack or bag filled with nutritious, shelf-stable food. Backpacks are packed by caring volunteers and distributed through participating schools in a way that protects every child's privacy and dignity.

A Typical Backpack Includes

• Breakfast items (oatmeal, cereal, breakfast bars)
• Shelf-stable milk
• Macaroni & cheese
• Canned pasta or soup
• Peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
• Crackers
• Fruit cups or applesauce
• Granola bars
• Healthy snacks
• Easy-to-prepare meals

Why This Program Matters

Food insecurity affects children's health, emotional well-being, and ability to succeed in school.

When children have enough nutritious food, they are more likely to:

• Stay healthy
• Concentrate in class
• Improve attendance
• Feel less stress and anxiety
• Perform better academically
• Build confidence and self-esteem

Every backpack represents more than food—it represents hope, compassion, and a community that cares.

Our Impact

Together with our generous supporters, Eastern Oregon Mission is working to ensure that no child in our community goes hungry over the weekend.

As the program grows, we look forward to sharing the impact made possible through your generosity.

Sponsor a Backpack

A Small Gift Makes a Big Difference

Your financial support helps provide consistent weekend meals for local children.

Every donation directly supports purchasing nutritious food and keeping backpacks filled throughout the school year.

Ways to Give

$25
Helps provide weekend meals for one child.

$100
Supports several children with nutritious weekend food.

$250
Helps stock essential food supplies for multiple backpacks.

Monthly Giving
Become a Hunger Hero by providing ongoing support throughout the school year.

Donate Today

Your generosity helps ensure no child has to wonder where their next meal will come from.