October is a season of change on the Oregon Coast—shorter days, colder nights, and the return to school routines. For too many children in rural western Lane County, it’s also a time when food insecurity quietly grows. As backpacks fill with homework and permission slips, they also need to carry something even more important: nutritious food for the weekend. That’s where Food Backpack for Kids (FBFK) steps in.
World Food Day on October 16 is a global reminder that ending hunger starts close to home. This October, we’re inviting our Florence and Mapleton neighbors to turn awareness into action so that every child can head into Monday ready to learn, not worried about their next meal.
Why Fall Is a Critical Time for Hungry Kids
As the weather turns colder and routines shift, families often face added pressure:
- Higher utility bills and seasonal expenses
- Back-to-school costs like supplies, clothing, and activity fees
- The end of some summer meal programs
- Seasonal work hours or tourism-related employment changes
In rural communities like Florence and Mapleton, distance to grocery stores and limited transportation can make access even harder. Many local students rely on school meals during the week—leaving weekends as a significant gap. That’s exactly the gap FBFK fills.
In Lane County, roughly one in four children live in food-insecure households, with the highest rates found in rural communities where families often face long drives to grocery stores and limited transportation options. Nearly half of all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and local schools have become vital food distribution hubs, providing daily breakfasts, lunches, and weekend food backpacks to fill in nutritional gaps.
What Is World Food Day?
Celebrated every year on October 16, World Food Day highlights the global commitment to ensuring everyone has access to safe, nutritious food. It’s a day to amplify solutions that work—especially local, community-driven programs. For FBFK, World Food Day is about rallying our neighbors to ensure children in Florence and Mapleton have reliable weekend food support during the school year. When a child knows they will have breakfast on Saturday and dinner on Sunday, they can focus, thrive, and grow.
How Food Backpack for Kids Makes a Difference
FBFK partners closely with local schools to make sure children have food they can count on:
- Weekend food bags: Volunteers pack kid-friendly, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare items that help bridge the weekend gap.
- School-year schedule: We sustain support throughout fall and winter, including long weekends and holiday breaks when possible.
- Dignified distribution: Bags are delivered discreetly through school staff so kids receive support without stigma.
- Community-powered: Local donors, volunteers, and partners make every bag possible.
Every bag tells a story: a child who can concentrate in class on Monday, a family with one less worry, and a community that chooses to show up for one another.
How the Community Can Help This October
In honor of World Food Day, here are simple ways you can make a direct impact:
- Volunteer: Join a backpack-packing or distribution shift. Bring a friend, your service club, or your workplace team.
- Give: Make a one-time gift or start a monthly donation to sustain support through fall and winter.
- Spread the word: Share a post about World Food Day and tag FBFK. Invite others to learn how weekend food bags help kids in Florence and Mapleton.
- Partner with us: Local businesses can sponsor bags, match donations, or support a special World Food Day campaign.
Call to Action
This October—and especially on World Food Day—pledge your support for kids in our community. Volunteer for a packing shift, make a gift, or share our mission with your neighbors. Together, we can ensure that no child in Florence or Mapleton goes hungry this season.
Ready to help? Contact us to volunteer, donate, or learn more about our current needs. Your generosity today fills a backpack this weekend—and fuels a child’s potential all year long.