Have questions about Kids Pantry? You’re in the right place.

Kids Pantry is a weekend food support program run by The Pavlik Foundation, aimed at helping children in our community who may not have consistent access to nutritious meals outside of school. Each week, volunteers pack and deliver discreet backpacks filled with ready-to-eat and easy-to-prepare food to participating schools. These backpacks are then picked up by the children on Friday after school, helping ensure they have enough to eat from Friday evening through Monday morning.

Each backpack contains enough food to provide 10 healthy meals for the weekend. We focus on nutritious, kid-friendly options that include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods. To keep things interesting and help kids look forward to their backpack each week, we rotate between four different menus - so they don’t receive the same food selection again until the following month. 

No - we rotate between four different menus to keep the food fresh and interesting. This means children receive a different selection each weekend and won’t see the same menu again for at least a month. The variety helps make the experience more enjoyable and ensures a broader range of nutrients across the month.

• Week 1 Sample Menu
• Week 2 Sample Menu
• Week 3 Sample Menu
• Week 4 Sample Menu

Backpacks are delivered every Friday. During the school year, they’re brought to participating schools, where students discreetly pick them up from the front office before heading home. During school holidays, we shift to home delivery to ensure children continue receiving support. Whether school is in session or not, we’re committed to making sure no child spends the weekend hungry. 

Our program is designed to preserve the dignity and privacy of the children receiving support. Backpacks are distributed discreetly by school staff, and there is no requirement for children to know the source. That said, some families do reach out to express their gratitude — and many children simply know that someone in their community cares. 

Kids Pantry runs year-round. During the school year, backpacks are delivered to participating schools each Friday. When school is out for holidays or summer break, we deliver the backpacks directly to children's homes. This way, children continue to receive consistent weekend food support no matter the season. 

Kids Pantry identifies schools in areas known to experience higher levels of food insecurity. We work with community organizations and the school board to select the schools we serve. From there, we partner with each school’s principal, who consults with teachers to identify students who may benefit from weekend food support. Families are then asked to complete an intake form, followed by a brief phone interview, so we can better understand their needs and ensure we’re providing the right kind of support for each child. 

If there are other children in the home who could benefit from weekend food support — including high school students, preschoolers, or even infants — we do our best to support them too. During the intake process, we ask families about all children in the household so we can assess their needs. Since elementary students can’t reasonably carry multiple backpacks home, we provide a grocery gift card to the parent or caregiver to help cover food for the other children. Our goal is to make sure no child in the household is left behind — because hunger doesn’t stop with just one child. 

No. Kids Pantry is completely free for families. The program is fully funded through the generosity of donors, community partners, and volunteers who believe that no child should spend the weekend hungry. 

Yes. Discretion is a top priority. During the school year, backpacks are picked up quietly from the school’s front office on Friday afternoons. There’s no public announcement or labeling, and students receive their food in a neutral-looking backpack to help preserve their privacy and dignity. 

During the intake process, we review any allergies, dietary restrictions, or cultural food considerations with the family. Each child’s menu is then customized to meet their specific needs. We also follow up periodically with parents or caregivers to check on food preferences and satisfaction. Adjustments are made as needed to ensure the food is both safe and enjoyable for the child. 

It costs $25 to support one child for a weekend. That’s enough to provide 10 healthy, thoughtfully prepared meals. You can also support a child for a full month for $100, or for an entire school year for $1,300. Kids Pantry is entirely funded by the community - every backpack we send is possible because of donors like you. 

Yes! Many of our supporters choose to sponsor at different levels - whether it's one child or a school. While we don’t identify individual children by name to protect their privacy, we’re happy to work with you to direct your support to a specific school or group of students. We can also provide updates so you can see the impact your generosity is making in that community.

Check out our Donation page.

Yes! You will receive a tax receipt for the full amount of any donation.

Every dollar you donate goes directly toward feeding children. Kids Pantry is 100% community funded, and we are committed to using donations solely for food costs — not administration, salaries, or overhead. Your gift puts nutritious meals into the hands of kids who need them most. Plain and simple. 

Yes - we’d love your help! Volunteers are essential to making Kids Pantry possible. Whether you're interested in packing backpacks, helping with deliveries, or supporting behind-the-scenes logistics, there’s a role for you. Reach out through our Volunteers page to learn more about current opportunities and how you can get involved. 

We know everyone’s schedule is different, so we offer flexible volunteer opportunities. Packing shifts typically take 1 to 2 hours, and delivery routes can often be completed in about the same amount of time. Some volunteers help weekly, while others join us once a month - every bit helps, and we’ll work with you to find a role that fits your availability. Reach out to us on our Volunteers page.

No special training is required to volunteer with Kids Pantry. We provide simple, on-the-spot instructions to make sure you feel confident and comfortable in your role - whether you're packing food or helping with deliveries. All you need is a willingness to help and a heart for supporting kids in our community. 

Yes - youth and student groups can get involved, but it depends on the activity and supervision available. We’re always open to engaging young people in meaningful volunteer work, but we do ask to speak with a parent, teacher, or group leader first to make sure it’s a good fit. If you’re part of a group that’s interested, please reach out — we’d be happy to explore the possibilities together.