Federation at Work: Filling Backpacks, Fighting Hunger
On Fridays, when the school bell rings, and backpacks are slung over small shoulders, many children look forward to resting and playing. For others, the weekend brings a quieter worry: when will I eat next?
Backpack Buddies was created to meet that moment. By providing weekend meal kits to children facing food insecurity, the organization helps ensure that hunger doesn’t interrupt childhood. In April, Backpack Buddies quietly reached a powerful milestone: more than one million bags of food packed and distributed across metro Atlanta. Jonathan Halitsky, Director of Operations, says, “It’s … a call to action. This need isn’t going away.” The number, he explained, helps demonstrate just how great the need truly is.
The impact of that work is best understood through the voices of the children themselves. As one 9 year-old recipient shared, “Before Backpack Buddies, my brother ate on Saturdays, and I ate on Sunday. Now we both get to eat all weekend.” For Jonathan, moments like that are reminders of why the work matters. “The population we serve has no margin for error,” he said. “Even losing a week of benefits is a big deal.”
And that reality became especially clear earlier this year during the government shutdown, when food assistance was disrupted for many families. Backpack Buddies braced for increased need, and it came. “We definitely got calls needing more service,” Jonathan recalled. “But we were also blessed to receive calls from people wanting to do more to help.” What followed was a surge of community response that made it possible to provide extra food to more than 2,000 children over the holiday break.
Backpack Buddies partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta reflects deeply shared values. Through Federation’s JInnovate grant, Backpack Buddies has gained both financial support and access to capacity-building resources like Catchafire. “Federation has unlocked a lot of opportunity for us,” Jonathan said. “Not just through dollars, but by connecting us to other organizations that help us do our work better.” For a growing nonprofit, those efficiencies matter. “As a small organization, the more people we have to hire, the less money we have to feed children,” he added.
That partnership became tangible during a recent urgent bag-packing need. With community partners stretched thin over the holidays, Backpack Buddies needed help preparing food. Federation stepped in. At short notice, Federation staff packed 150 bags of food, bags that would soon make their way into children’s hands at Brockett Elementary School in Tucker. For Ruthie Wilson, Community Outreach Coordinator, the moment was emotional. “We were kind of scrambling,” she said. “And then Federation just showed up. It meant the world.” She added, “It’s like that Mr. Rogers quote: when things are hard, look for the helpers. They’re always there.”
For those inspired to help, Backpack Buddies offers many ways to get involved. Volunteers can sign up at backpackbuddiesatl.org/volunteer or reach out directly to Ruthie at ruthie@backpackbuddiesatl.org. As Ruthie put it, “If you want to help, I want to help you help us.”
Together, through partnership, compassion, and action, Federation donors and Backpack Buddies are ensuring more children head into the weekend with full bellies and a little more peace of mind.