1 in 3 Baltimore students experience food insecurity.
Food insecurity refers to the condition of experiencing uncertain or inadequate access to nutritious food.
1,900+
Students and their families supported each week. Each bag provides food for two to three people for the weekend.
37,960
Children in Baltimore experience food insecurity. Students receive free breakfast and lunch in school, but lack access to consistent healthy foods throughout the weekend. Weekend Backpacks bridges this gap.
50+
Community Schools partner with us. These schools provide additional support and services like ours to fit each neighborhood’s needs.
Get Involved
We are a primarily volunteer driven organization – it takes almost 200 volunteers a month to fulfill our mission. We welcome support from individuals, organizations, businesses and donors. Learn about all of the various ways you can get involved.
Volunteer
Whether it’s packing the food, driving to schools, or sharing your professional talents, each person can make a difference.
Partner
Looking for a way your company, organization, or school can get involved? Schedule a volunteer experience, sponsor our event, or hold a collection drive.
Support
When you give and volunteer, you help students become more food secure. Your time, energy and financial support will go far!
Find out what’s in our bags
We prioritize balancing nutrition, variety, and kid-friendliness in each bag. Check out some of our typical menus and additional materials.
See what’s happening
Keep up to date with the latest. Read about our most recent updates, news, and events here.
Weekend Backpacks Baltimore X Miss Shirley’s Cafe on Fox 45
Weekend Backpacks Baltimore Executive Director Fred Hassell joined Executive Chef Zuri Coles from Miss Shirley’s Cafe to sample some brunch items and talk about our upcoming fundraiser, End Zone Eats, […]
Weekend Backpacks Baltimore X Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation on WJZ
Weekend Backpacks is proud of our partnerships, especially with those who’ve been with us for so long. The Congregation at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom has been amazing, assisting with purchasing food, […]
WBAL Sunday Brunch with Weekend Backpacks and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood!
Weekend Backpacks Events Chairperson Cindy Saval joined Chef Kaja from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood on WBAL TV-11 Sunday Brunch to give a preview of what attendees can expect at End Zone […]
Cindy Saval talks End Zone Eats with TJ Smith
Weekend Backpacks Baltimore Events Chairperson Cindy Saval spoke with WBAL AM 1090’s TJ Smith to discuss our upcoming event, End Zone Eats, and the impact that WBB has on Baltimore […]
40 Sinclair Employees Step Up for Weekend Backpacks on WBFF
Weekend Backpacks hosted 40 employees from Sinclair Broadcasting, the parent company of WBFF Fox-45. Volunteers assisted with packing over 600 meal bags for distribution to partner schools across Baltimore City! […]
Weekend Backpacks Baltimore on WJZ: Tackling Hunger with End Zone Eats
Weekend Backpacks spent some time talking with WJZ at 9 to share information about the good work we do each week of the school year and to promo our upcoming […]
Weekend Backpacks on WBAL News Radio 1090
Big thanks to WBAL News Radio for featuring our upcoming End Zone Eats: Weekend Backpacks’ Tailgate! 🏈The segment highlights how this event brings together food, community, and a shared goal—making […]
End Zone Eats on National Today
Our upcoming End Zone Eats: Weekend Backpacks’ Tailgate is getting some attention! This recent coverage highlights how the event brings together food, community, and a shared goal—making sure Baltimore kids […]
Weekend Backpacks Featured on WBAL-TV
We’re proud to be featured on WBAL-TV as we gear up to feed nearly 2,000 Baltimore families each week. Events Chair Cindy Saval and Executive Director Fred Hassell joined WBAL-TV’s […]
Gina Crash Interview!
Events Chairwoman Cindy Saval and Executive Director Fred Hassell sat down with Gina Crash from 101.9 FM to discuss our upcoming fundraiser, End Zone Eats, and to share some information […]
WBJC Radio Spot
Weekend Backpacks was thrilled to be featured on WBJC 91.5 with Dyana Neal!
Spring 2026 Newsletter
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Summer 2025 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Summer 2025 Newsletter.
Spring 2025 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Spring 2025 Newsletter.
Winter 2024 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Winter 2024 Newsletter.
Fall 2024 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Fall 2024 Newsletter.
Meet Our Van
The Ravens Love a Good Caw-s! Which is why they joined us to distribute our weekly bags of food and backpacks of school supplies and officially unveil our van!
WJZ’s School Supplies Segment
WJZ included Weekend Backpacks in their series on local organizations distributing school supplies to students in Baltimore. They joined us as Rosedale Federal packed 800 backpacks. This year, we packed and delivered over 3,000 backpacks to students throughout more than 50 schools!
Snack Packing at ECS Limited
ECS is a multi-year supporter of Weekend Backpacks. They pack snacks regularly, sponsor our chefs event, and support schools for our backpacks filled with school supplies. ECS packed 600 bags of snack items to be added to our weekly bags. Christy Keppel joined them and answered questions about Weekend Backpacks, food insecurity, and volunteering in general. Thank you, ECS, for providing these fun extras for our students!
Summer 2024 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Summer 2024 Newsletter.
Volunteer Appreciation Event
In the 2023-2024 school year our volunteers put in over 5,000 hours of work to fulfill our mission. We couldn’t do it without them and to show our appreciation we […]
Winter 2023 Newsletter
Keep up to date with Weekend Backpacks with our Winter 2023 Newsletter.
Make a donation today
Our average bag costs $12. Every donation increases our impact and supports another student for school readiness!