Backpack Buddies Weekend Meal Program
Because Hunger Doesn't Take the Weekend Off
For many students in Sterling, school breakfast and lunch are the most dependable meals of the week. When school dismisses on Friday, that support isn't available again until Monday morning.
The HRTS Backpack Buddies Weekend Meal Program helps bridge that gap by providing more than 300 Sterling students with nutritious weekend meal bags every week during the school year. Working alongside our partner schools, we help ensure students return to the classroom nourished, focused, and ready to learn.
Together, we can make sure no child has to face the weekend hungry.
Every Backpack Makes a Difference
"We have a second-grade student who lives with her grandmother after she lost her job and no longer has a car. Every Thursday she asks if she's going to find a 'black bag' in her backpack that day. When the answer is yes, she gives me a big hug. Some weeks, when we have extra bags, we send one home on both Thursday and Friday because we know how much it means to her."
-Casey Hansen, Family Liaison, Algonkian Elementary
Our Impact
Every week during the school year through Backpack Buddies:
300+ Sterling students receive weekend meal bags.
6
Partner schools
6
Meals in every bag
100%
Volunteer-powered.
Sponsor a Student
For just $12 a week, you can provide six nutritious weekend meals for one Sterling student.
-
$12 provides one week of weekend meals.
-
$50/month sponsors a student each month.
-
$5000 provides meals for an entire school year.
A recurring monthly gift ensures a child has dependable weekend meals throughout the school year.
Why Weekend Meals Matter
Hunger doesn't stop when the school week ends.
Many families work hard but still face difficult choices between groceries, housing, transportation, and other essential expenses. For students who depend on school meals, weekends can be especially challenging.
Backpack Buddies helps bridge that gap by providing six nutritious meals designed to carry students through the weekend so they can return to school ready to learn.
How Backpack Buddies Works
Schools Identify Students
School counselors, family liaisons, and school staff identify students who would benefit from additional weekend food support.
Volunteers Pack Food Bags
Every week, HRTS volunteers pack hundreds of meal bags filled with nutritious, shelf-stable foods.
Students Take Food Home
Meal bags are distributed discreetly through partner schools, ensuring families receive support with dignity and respect.
Students Return Ready to Learn
When children have dependable meals over the weekend, they can come back to school ready to focus on learning.
What's in a Backpack Buddies Bag?
Each Backpack Buddies bag holds at least six meals for a child to enjoy over the weekend. This past year, we added beans and rice to meet dietary needs and offer healthier, more filling options.
Want to help fill a bag? Check out our list to see exactly what goes inside and how you can make a difference:
-
1 plain, shelf-stable milk
-
1 shelf-stable chocolate milk
-
1 pound bag of rice
-
1 canned beans (pinto or black)
-
2 proteins (canned tuna, canned chicken, Vienna sausages, Chef Boyardee with meat (excluding beef ravioli))
-
1 canned soup
-
1 ramen noodles or individual mac-n-cheese cups
-
2 fruits (applesauce, fruit cups)
-
1 granola bar
-
1 fruit snack
-
2 individual oatmeal packets
Supporting Sterling Schools
HRTS currently provides weekend meals to students attending:
-
Potowmack Elementary School
-
Lowes Island Elementary School
-
Horizon Elementary School
-
Algonkian Elementary School
-
River Bend Middle School
-
Potomac Falls High School
Working directly with our partner schools ensures support reaches the students who need it most while protecting every family's privacy and dignity.
More Ways to Help
Donate Food
Volunteer
Weekly packing takes place throughout the school year on Tuesdays at noon.
Pack Bags at Home
Pack bags at home using our packing list. A great project for scout troops, businesses, and community groups.
Help Fill a Backpack this Week
Every Backpack Buddies meal bag is packed by volunteers, supported by generous donors, and delivered through trusted school partnerships, all to ensure Sterling students have nutritious food when school meals aren't available.
For just $12 a week, you can provide six weekend meals for one local student.
Your support helps make sure a child returns to school on Monday nourished, confident, and ready to learn.