Nourish Nantucket Launches Weekend Food Backpack Program for Island Students

Nourish Nantucket has launched a "Weekend Food Backpack Program," that sends home a bag of food with island students who want it. The program launched last Friday, September 18 at the Community Food Hub at 19 Boynton Lane.

All Nantucket students can access free breakfast and lunch at the Nantucket Public Schools on weekdays. Weekends are the gap, according to the non-profit attempting to address the island's food insecurity problem.

"For families already stretched by the cost of living on Nantucket, two days without school breakfast and lunch mean added financial burden for families," Nourish Nantucket stated in an announcement.

Each backpack holds four healthy meals plus nutritious snacks — shelf-stable, kid-friendly food that students can prepare themselves. Snacks include fresh, organic produce and milk, and the entire menu is nutritionally dense and made with clean ingredients. Bags are packed by volunteers at 19 Boynton Lane and distributed discreetly to students at the Community Food Hub. The program is self-selecting and open to any student on the island - no qualification or registration required, so no student is singled out.

The next distribution day is Friday, October 2 starting at 2:20 p.m. after dismissal at 19 Boynton Lane.

"We know that most households experiencing food insecurity on Nantucket are families with children. We are so grateful for our close partnerships with both the Nantucket Public Schools and the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club and we focus our programming on serving our year-round families and seniors," said Meg Browers, Executive Director of Nourish Nantucket.

"Students need 3 healthy meals a day in order to come to school ready to learn. We are proud to partner with Nourish Nantucket to ensure every child has meals and snacks over the weekend when the school cafeterias are closed," said Beth Hallett, Superintendent of Nantucket Public Schools.

The program is funded through the generous support of the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation, which has been an advocate for and supporter of Nourish Nantucket since its foundation in 2022.

For more information about the program, the weekend backpack product list, or to volunteer, please email laurie@nourishnantucket.org. Residents who want to support the program can make a donation at www.nourishnantucket.org.

Disclosure: Nantucket Current publisher Bruce Percelay sits on the board of Nourish Nantucket.