The Back Pack Program of Gladewater

Our mission, as a nonprofit organization, is to provide food each school weekend, through volunteers, to children in local schools with at home food insecurities in order that they might be more focused in school and not worried about if they will have food at home.

Smaller communities in East Texas often lack the resources to provide much needed help to those in need in our area. The food insecurity rate in Upshur and Gregg counties are 16.6% which means that this percentage of the population will regularly face problems putting food on the table for their families. Kids that are hungry only think about if they will be able to eat so they are not as focused on their school work and can often act out. We just want to help them with food when there may not be enough at home. We are in our 10th year and serve just over 225 kids in four schools in two ISD's. Everyone is a volunteer, all proceeds go directly for food from the East Texas Food Bank. Our cost for this year is expected to be over $30,000. We would like to expand to other small school districts in our area like Sabine, White Oak, and Big Sandy, but we need your help. Other fund raisers: Mardi Gras Pancake Dinner Feb 17, selling rose bushes at Gusher Days in Gladewater April 17th and 18th and, other fund raisers throughout the year including bingo and garage sales. We also receive some grants and donations from the public. Our  only expense is the food for the kids.