In North Carolina, one in five kids under the age of 18 does not have enough to eat, making our state one of the highest in the country for child food insecurity.

That’s why Joyner participates in a very special program called BackPack Buddies, administered through the Interfaith Food Shuttle. BackPack Buddies allows a group of Joyner children in need to take home some basic food each weekend. These students receive breakfast and lunch at school during the week, but often do not have access to nutritious food on the weekends. Providing students with better nutrition means they are better able to focus at school, with improved learning and behavior.

Last year, your generosity provided backpacks to 25 food insecure students — and we need your help to fund 25 students again for the 2019-20 school year. It costs $365 per child to provide with a weekly bag to take home filled with nutritious food throughout the school year.

If you would like to contribute, just click this link — you can donate anonymously if you wish, and it only takes a minute! Alternatively, you can mail your donation to:  Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, 1001 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC  27603. Checks can be made out to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle with “Joyner BackPack Buddies” on the memo line.  Donations are tax deductible. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes directly from Interfaith Food Shuttle.

Interested in hosting a food drive for BackPack Buddies at your work, church, civic group, party, or other gathering? It’s easy!  Download this BackPack Buddies flyer to share with food drive participants and reach out to any of the three BackPack Buddies chairs with questions and to set up a time to drop off food.

For more information, please visit Interfaith Food Shuttle’s website or contact one of the chairs of BackPack Buddies committee: