Food Insecurity Programs
“Keeping kids fed, fit & ready to learn so they grow to be self-sufficient adults ready to earn.”
Ginny Mermel, BackPack Meals Founder
Featured Program
Food Support Available for All Billings Public Schools Students
The Education Foundation provides critical food support for students facing food insecurity outside of school. While access to supports like SNAP remain challenging, we want every family in our community to know that help is available right now.
Through our Food Insecurity Programs, we:
- Provide Backpack Meals for elementary students to take home over the weekend and holiday breaks
- Operate 36 Food Pantries: Every district building has a food pantry offering food, hygiene supplies, and weekend or break support for any student in need.
If your family – or a student you know – needs food support, please contact their teacher, counselor, principal, or school secretary. They can connect you with our programs quickly and confidentially. Wondering about access to additional services? Explore options from the Montana Food Bank Network here.
Want to help?
- Donate funds. We have the ability to buy bulk items so your donation gets put to use right away.
- Donate items to help keep our pantries stocked.
Together, we can ensure every student has what they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Backpack Meals
Did you know that 16% of children in Montana face hunger every day? That’s 1 in 6 kids.
Many principals, teachers, and school personnel have students come to them throughout the school year apprehensive about weekends and holidays because of a lack of food at home. Our school backpack food program in Billings provides convenient and portable meals to elementary children over the weekends and school breaks. Qualifying children who may experience food insecurity over the weekends and holidays receive meals to take home on Friday or before a school break that sustains them until returning to school where they participate in the Free and Reduced breakfast and lunch program. Meals are even included for younger siblings not yet in school.
The weekend meal program for students helps students stay in school and focused on learning so they may succeed in life!
800 elementary students in Billings participate in the BackPack program.
On Friday afternoon, school staff discreetly place a BackPack Meal in a student’s backpack. Kids go home knowing they have four meals and two snacks to look forward to for the weekend ahead.
Over 98% of your gift to BackPack Meals goes directly towards feeding children!
Thanks to a volunteer workforce and donation of warehouse space and services by Billings Public Schools, 98% of every dollar donated goes directly towards food.
Financial donations go a long ways!
A weekend supply of meals costs approximately $6.50 per student. Donate to the backpack meal program today! You can make a difference in a student’s life by funding student hunger initiatives.
We rely on the support of volunteers to help us pack our food kits and during the summer for the mobile food program. If you are interested in learning more about how you can volunteer for school food pantry, click the link below.
Yes! I want to learn more about volunteering!
Food Pantries
Where would I find a school food pantry near me? Teen Pantries, begun in 2011, are located in all three Billings Public High Schools, the Career Center, and the middle schools. The first Elementary Pantries opened in the spring of 2022 to begin service to K-5 children receiving BackPack Meals but in need of evening meal support. These Elementary Pantries offer basic meal items as well as some hygiene items. The Teen Pantries provide groceries, toiletries, and some clothing supplies for middle and high school aged students, many of whom are homeless. Pantries are discreetly located and allow students access to basic necessities. Students who may benefit from the pantries are identified by school personnel and directed towards the pantry resource.
At least 800 students regularly use the teen pantries each week. Donate today to ease the worry of empty stomachs and help students focus on their education.