Backpack Program

The Backpack Program by Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend, IN, provides nutritious frozen meals to children who may go without food over the weekend. By rescuing high-quality surplus food from local schools, events, and restaurants, Cultivate creates balanced, ready-to-eat meals that fill the 68-hour gap between school lunches on Friday and breakfasts on Monday. Each backpack includes multiple breakfasts and lunches or dinners, ensuring children return to school nourished and ready to learn while also reducing food waste in the community.