🎒 Children's Program

Backpack Buddies

About the Program

No Child Should Go Hungry on the Weekend

Many children in Cooke County rely on school meals for the majority of their daily nutrition. When Friday afternoon arrives, that safety net disappears — leaving food-insecure children without reliable meals until school resumes on Monday morning.

VISTO's Backpack Buddies program closes this gap by sending child-friendly, nutritious weekend meal packs home with food-insecure children in 15 Cooke County schools every Friday — discreetly, with dignity, and with love.

1,174
Children served per week
15
Cooke County schools
35+
Dedicated volunteers
339,720
Backpack meals served in 2025

The Hunger Crisis in Cooke County

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20% of Cooke County families live in poverty
One in five families in our county struggles to make ends meet, putting food security at risk.
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43% of single-female-headed households are in poverty
Single mothers face disproportionate economic hardship, impacting their children's food security.
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84% of young children in single-female-led households face food insecurity
Children under 6 in single-female-led households face extraordinary rates of food insecurity.
Get Involved

Help Feed a Child This Weekend

The Backpack Buddies program depends entirely on donations and volunteers. Your support directly puts food in a child's hands every Friday afternoon.

1
Donate food or funds
Kid-friendly non-perishables or a financial contribution helps purchase supplies.
2
Volunteer to pack bags
Join our 35+ volunteers who pack and deliver backpacks each week.
3
Spread the word
Tell other families and schools about the program. Help us reach every child who needs us.
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Is Your Child Eligible?

Backpack Buddies is available to children in any of our 15 participating Cooke County schools who are experiencing food insecurity. Applications are available in English and Spanish.

Contact your school counselor or reach out to VISTO directly to enroll.

Every Child Deserves to Eat This Weekend

Your donation or volunteer hours today will put food in a child's backpack by Friday. The impact is that direct and that immediate.

Donate Now Volunteer