News

Twenty Years of Helping Children Learn, Grow, and Thrive

For 20 years, the Regional Food Bank’s BackPack Program has helped ensure children have nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to eat when school is out. What began at one school in Schoharie County now provides 1.2 million meals each year to 5,600 students in 250 schools across our 23-county service area.

But our work doesn’t stop with the BackPack Program.

Our School Pantry Program has become a vital source of food for students facing hunger during the school year. The program has seen massive growth in the past five years, growing to provide more than 908,000 meals to pantries in 112 school buildings during the 2025–2026 school year.

School pantries give students something especially important: choice and dignity. Schools select the foods that best meet their students’ needs, and students can choose what works for their families, from non-perishable staples to fresh and frozen foods. They can access the pantry when they need it, without stigma.

This summer, we also provided meals to 2,210 children in 45 communities and home-delivered 10 weeks of meal kits to 600 students in rural communities. These efforts provided more than 275,000 meals to children and their families.

For 20 years, you’ve helped us put food in the hands of children who need it most. With your support, we can continue growing programs like School Pantry and BackPack, and make sure no child has to face hunger alone.