Penn Hills Elementary School's Backpack Program Helps Fight Weekend Hunger

For many students, school meals provide a reliable source of nutrition throughout the week. However, when the weekend arrives, some children face uncertainty about their next meal. To ease this anxiety, Penn Hills Elementary School launched the Backpack Program to bridge that gap, ensuring students facing food insecurity have access to nutritious food over the weekend. 

The Backpack Program, which began towards the end of January 2025, currently provides 100 students with a grocery bag full of food every Friday. Thanks to funding from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and a generous donation from the Penn Hills Education Foundation, the program has reached families within our school community in need. 

Since its inception, the Backpack Program's impact has been immediate and deeply felt. As Penn Hills Elementary School's Principal Mr. Chris Cence remarked: "This program is making a real difference for our students. We've had families tell us how much they appreciate knowing that their child[ren] will have something to eat over the weekend. It's one less worry on their shoulders."

The district is incredibly grateful for the external support that has made this program possible. While the program is currently serving as many families as possible within available resources, the program's success has shown a need for further expansion. The district is currently seeking additional funding and community partnerships to help expand the program to reach even more students. 

If you'd like to learn more about the Backpack Program or are interested in donating, please contact Kristin Brown at kbrown@phsd.org.