CC Backpack For Kids - Holiday Wish

Help Us Feed Kids in Culver City

Did you know that nearly 30% of CCUSD students qualify as economically disadvantaged? Because of the soaring cost of housing and transportation, the LA Food Bank estimates that 1 in 4 families in LA County is food insecure. For many students, consuming free, hot meals at school ensures they don’t go hungry and are able to receive nearly 50% of their daily calorie intake.* But, what happens over the weekend when school meals are unavailable?

In CCUSD, the PTA has created the Backpacks for Kids program to help meet this need. The program provides nutritious, child-friendly, easy-to-prepare food for students to take home each weekend, when they don’t have access to free school meals. Last school year, an average of 279 backpacks were distributed each week. Our goal is to help every Culver City Unified school district student who faces food insecurity on the weekends.

The Culver City Backpacks for Kids program needs to raise $20,000 to meet costs for the 23-24 school year. The total annual cost to keep the program running is approximately $90,000.

The program relies 100% on community donations, grants, and volunteers. Increased demand for services combined with increased food costs, and rising numbers of students in need have created a shortfall in our budget.

Academic achievement is impacted by outside factors that need to be addressed so each student can reach their highest potential. The Backpacks for Kids program helps address basic needs for adequate food, thereby improving students’ ability to learn and be successful.

As you count your blessings this season, please give generously to support our Culver City students in need. We are grateful for your donations!