How 2017's 10 backpacks grew into a program feeding thousands in Metro Atlanta

Image: Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta

Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta began in 2017 with a small group of volunteers at a single local elementary school, packing nonperishable food for children who faced food insecurity over the weekend.

The first distribution served just 10 students. Nine years later, the organisation provides weekend meals to thousands of children across dozens of schools throughout metro Atlanta. Here's how a small volunteer effort grew into a regional programme, and what it takes to keep it running today.

How Backpack Buddies started with 10 backpacks

The programme's story began at one local elementary school, where volunteers gathered each week to pack nonperishable food for children facing weekend food insecurity.

According to the Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta, the bags were discreetly delivered to the school so students could take food home in their backpacks without drawing attention to their circumstances. The idea behind it was simple, if children couldn't rely on school meals over the weekend, the community could help make sure food was available at home.

That first distribution reached just 10 students, laying the groundwork for what would grow far beyond a single school.

From one school to dozens: How the programme scaled up

Backpack Buddies became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2022, and during the 2022–2023 school year, it was feeding approximately 800 children across 27 schools. By the start of the 2025–2026 school year, that number had grown to 2,625 children across 53 schools, supported by hundreds of volunteers and 34 Community Buddy organisations. In April 2025, the organisation reached another milestone, delivering its one millionth meal, a figure representing years of food sourcing, inventory management, packing, transportation and school partnerships working together behind the scenes.

Ronald and Samra Robbins, founders of Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta, receive the Max & Mary London People Power Award from Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta President & CEO Eric Robbins. (Image: Patti with Scensarions)

What goes into a weekend meal, and how the model works

Backpack Buddies provides shelf-stable, kid-friendly food designed specifically for children to have access to meals and snacks over the weekend, including proteins and mains, vegetables, breakfast items, fruits, snacks and drinks. The goal isn't simply to put food into a backpack, but to give children reliable access to food during the days when school meals aren't available. The model relies heavily on Community Buddies, organisations such as religious groups, civic organisations and senior centres that adopt one or more schools and help pack and deliver meals to children identified as needing weekend food assistance.

The role of volunteers and what comes next

Volunteers remain central to the programme's operations, helping inventory food, prepare orders, load deliveries and support community events at the organisation's Dunwoody warehouse. As Backpack Buddies has grown, so does its need for volunteer support, since a larger programme means more food to move, more orders to prepare and more schools to serve. The organisation estimates that $250 can feed one child every weekend of the school year, and continues to rely on donations, volunteers and new Community Buddy partnerships to keep expanding its reach across metro Atlanta, where the need for weekend food support has continued to grow alongside the programme itself.