We have big news to share, and we are so excited! This fall, Food For Free is adopting the Somerville Weekend Backpack Program.

This program operates in all nine elementary schools in Somerville and reaches almost 300 children.

We have been friends with the Somerville Weekend Backpack Program since its inception. Founder, Ross Richmond, not only worked for Food For Free-—he created our Family Meals Program-—but also received much of his advice in starting the Somerville program from our own Alanna Mallon—founder of the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program.

Bringing food to schools is a great way to nourish students without creating more work for their parents. The Somerville Backpack Program gets food directly to the students where they already spend their days—in school.

We’re excited to support these students in Somerville. And, we hope to use what we learn to help others—throughout Massachusetts and beyond—start their own programs and improve upon existing ones.

Want to help? We need volunteers to make sandwiches and pack bags of food for Somerville students. Shifts are Friday mornings, 8:30 to 10:30, at Connexion Church in Somerville. You can sign up for volunteer shifts here.