BACKPACK BUDDIES:

The Rotary Club of Kent provides bags of food to some of the neediest elementary schools in the Kent School District as part of a weekend food program.  Educators agree it is hard for students to learn when they are hungry.  

Each month during the school year, the Rotary Club of Kent, and dozens of volunteers of all ages, gather at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission Distribution Center at 8226 S. 208th St. in Kent, to ack as many as 900 bags in approximately 45 minutes. Each week during the school year, those bags of food are delivered to more than 200 children in our community that otherwise might not have sufficient food during the weekends. The Backpack Buddy Program would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers to make the world a better place.

We count ourselves very fortunate - with your help - to be able to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community. At our annnual fundraising auction (Escapades) we are able to secure  funds to continue the program into the next school year. But we don't want to stop there. If we were able to partner with local groups like clubs, churches, PTAs, businesses etc. for volunteering and fund raising, we might be able to  expand the program to reach even more needy children. 

For more information on how to participate or support this program, check out our Facebook Events Page for Monthly Backpack Packing Party. If you know anyone who would like to support this program financially so that it can expand, please let us know.  

Links to articles, pictures and videos about the Backpack Buddy program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUU8_WV2a7U?

http://www.kentreporter.com/news/volunteers-buddy-up-to-beat-child-hunger/

http://www.ilovekent.net/2017/01/12/rotarys-backpack-buddies-program-feeds-hungry-kent-kids/