Program goal: To feed students from Cook Literacy Model School on weekends and over holidays, when they do not have access to free breakfast and lunch at school.

Each week committee members pack and distribute food at school every Friday morning and prior to school breaks, to go home with students in backpacks. We partner with Forsyth Backpack Program, which provides the nonperishable food and delivers it to the school in bulk deliveries. We also rely on fruit donations from community members and JLWS volunteers to include fresh fruit.

We serve 120 children, which means that approximately 6000 food bags are packed and delivered to Cook students over the course of each school year!

Help the Backpack Program stock the food pantry at Cook Literacy Model School!

Donate non-perishable food items during our food drive, November 13th-27th.

At Cook, 90% of the student body is considered economically disadvantaged and their food pantry not only serves 250 students in Pre-K through 5th grade, but families, and the wider community as well. Donations to the pantry have been low this year and we want to make sure that food is available with the approaching holidays!

Donations may be made at the November 13th GMM, via the Walmart Wish List, or emailing backpack@jlws.org to arrange pick-up of donated items. Items can also be dropped off at Kim Taylor and Company or JLWS HQ; however, there are no set office hours at headquarters at this time so this option is for members with HQ access.

All non-perishable food donations are welcome, with items of high need noted below.
– Shelf stable milk
-Spaghetti sauce
– Spaghetti noodles
– Beef stew
– Rice
– Spam
– Canned chicken
– Cup of noodles
– Mini ravioli
– Fruit cups
– Applesauce
– Canned potatoes
– Canned carrots
– Peanut butter
– Graham crackers
– Individual cereal
– Instant grits
– Pop tarts