Phoenix-area group donates food-filled backpacks to hungry schoolkids

PHOENIX — Even though Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is officially over, there are still ways to honor his legacy by helping hungry kids in the Valley.

Francisco Avalos with United Way said the organization is looking for donations and volunteers to help with its WeekEnd Hunger Backpacks program.

The program supplies school-age children with a backpack full of food to take home and eat over the weekend.

Avalos said every Friday during the school year, children at nine Valley schools are given backpacks. Each backpack is filled with enough food for seven meals.

Related: Mesa non-profit provides schoolkids with food for weekend

“The schools that we are working in — 95 percent [of students] or above have free or reduced lunch, which means that a family of four is making less than $24,000 a year,” he said.

Avalos said the program does not only work to feed those children, but feed them healthy and sustainable meals.

Volunteers fill backpacks with food for food-insecure @CityofPhoenixAZ schoolkids … carrying on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and spirit @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/fAf6msl7Pq

— Kathy Cline (@ClineKathleen) January 15, 2018

“What hunger looks like is an obese child who is eating a ton of processed foods because they only have access to a microwave,” he added.

Avalos also said that about one in 20 homes suffer from food insecurity, which means hardworking parents are foregoing meals because they do not have enough food for themselves and their children.

Those who want to donate food or money can do so through the UnitedWay website. There are also opportunities available for volunteers to give out backpacks or volunteer from home.

KTAR News’ Kathy Cline contributed to this report.

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