Here’s a sad statistic- 1 in every 5 children attend school on an empty stomach.  It may seem hard to believe, but right here in Hamilton many just can’t put food on the table for their entire family.

Volunteers unpack food for donations to fill the backpacks to send hunger packing.

But the Hamilton Area YMCA Togetherhood committee is working to change that!

Earlier in the month of January and February, they collected non-perishable items and worked to fill backpacks in an effort to help our littlest learners achieve more. They stuffed backpacks with breakfast, lunch, and snack items and distributed to children in our community to provide weekend meal assistance.

Assistance was provided by:

US Foods
Rotary Club of Trenton
Social Concerns Committee of St David the King
Our Lady of Sorrows School (Catholic Education Week project)
Dr. Donna Vagnozzi-Bucci/Family and Spa Dentistry
McGalliard School
St Mark’s Church
Whole Foods Market
Care One at Hamilton

The committee packed more than 215 backpacks with the outpouring of support they received for this project from over 30 volunteers and local community organizations, schools and businesses, they were able to help combat hunger in our community and bring to light an issue, that no child (or adult) living in our community should go hungry.