Every other week, Chandra Conway spends part of her day packing KidPack bags at the White Bear Area Food Shelf.
Her employer offers paid volunteer hours, and Chandra has chosen to use that time helping local children.
"It’s the highlight of my week. I really love it," she says.
For Chandra, it's about more than packing food. She enjoys working alongside the dedicated KidPack volunteers, describing them as "delightful." She also appreciates how well-organized the program is, making it easy for volunteers to jump in and know they are making a real difference.
And that difference is significant.
Last year, White Bear Area Food Shelf's KidPack program provided weekend food support to more than 300 local children. Designed for students in kindergarten through 5th grade in White Bear Lake Area Schools, KidPacks help bridge the gap when free and reduced-price school meals aren't available over the weekend.
Every Friday, enrolled students receive a bag tucked right into their backpacks containing:
- 3 breakfasts
- 3 ready-to-eat meals
- 5 snacks
These bags aren't just packed with food—they're packed with care. Each one is customized to meet a child's allergy needs and clearly labeled for safety. Volunteers also include fun activities, such as word puzzles and games in both English and Spanish, helping make weekends a little brighter.
KidPacks include individually packaged meals and snacks that children can easily prepare themselves. These kid-friendly items are often more expensive than bulk foods and can be challenging to source. Because every item must be safely distributed on its own, ingredients, nutrition information, and expiration dates must appear on each individual package, not just the outer packaging, limiting the bulk purchasing options available for the program.
That's why community support is so important.
Whether you're volunteering your time like Chandra or donating much-needed KidPack items, you're helping ensure local children have nutritious food to get them through the weekend.
Want to Help Fill a KidPack Bag?
One of the easiest ways to support the KidPack program is by purchasing requested items from the Amazon Wish List. Every donation will be packed into the weekend bags for students.
To learn more about KidPacks or support the program, visit our Amazon Wish List or contact the White Bear Area Food Shelf.
* KidPack is a free supplemental weekend food program for pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade students attending White Bear Lake Area Schools. Families interested in enrolling in the KidPack program can ask for registration information at their child's school office or contact Maddie Wilson at madeline@whitebearfoodshelf.org.
