Covanta SEMASS coordinated a donation drive to benefit Wareham Middle School’s efforts to fight food insecurity through the Backpack Food Program. Covanta employees made individual donations, which were then matched by the facility. In total, the facility’s donation was able to provide Easter dinner to the families of 50 children in the Backpack Program! Each family received a grocery store gift card to purchase a ham or turkey, plus a bag with all the fixings.
The Backpack Food program was created to provide meals to children at highest risk of food insecurity for weekends, as well as school breaks. For many children, the meals they receive in school through the National School Lunch Program often represent the most substantial source of nutrition they can rely on daily. Through the Backpack Food Program, each child receives a bag of small meals and snacks that can be prepared at home on days when school is not in session, to help bridge the gap for those families in need.