During the 2025–2026 school year, the Forsyth Backpack Program distributed 122,696 meals to students across 13 Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) partner schools. An additional 13,000 meals were provided through in‑school food pantries at five WS/FCS partner schools. These efforts reflect the organization’s growing commitment to ensuring that every child in Forsyth County has access to reliable, nutritious food.
For many students, school is the most consistent source of daily meals. When summer arrives, that structure disappears. Families who rely on school breakfasts and lunches often face increased financial strain, and children face a higher risk of food insecurity. Research shows that hungry children struggle physically, academically, developmentally, and socially. The effects can last well into adulthood, which is why the Forsyth Backpack Program remains steadfast in its mission to provide nutritious food to children and families at risk of food insecurity in Forsyth County.
Hunger doesn’t take a break for summer, and neither does the Forsyth Backpack Program. This year, the organization expanded its summer support by offering Summer Pantry Boxes. These family‑sized boxes filled with shelf stable foods were built to help fill the gap left while school meals and the distribution of Forsyth Backpack’s weekend meals are paused. These boxes were assembled thanks to generous community donations and distributed during the final two weeks of school to help families prepare for the months ahead.
“We were excited to see how well-received the summer pantry boxes were both for the families that picked them up and from our WS/FCS staff partners who identified the families who would benefit from receiving them. Our volunteers and donors have gone above and beyond this year to feed kids which is what made these summer meal boxes possible. It’s simple really, kids should be fed and our community has proven they think so too,” shared Forsyth Backpack Program Executive Director, Heather Bolt Mikeal.
In addition to pantry boxes, Forsyth Backpack Program is spreading the word to families in Forsyth County to encourage participation in the WS/FCS Summer Meals Program, which provides nutritious meals to all children ages 18 and under throughout the summer.
WS/FCS meal options are available across the county, in various formats including:
– Breakfast and lunch sites at assigned schools (children can eat on‑site)
– Bulk meal pickup (offering multiple meals to take home)
– Mobile meal sites (mobile units bring food directly into neighborhoods)
Visit the WS/FCS to view the full list of sites and learn more. These combined efforts ensure that children have access to consistent nutrition even when school is out.
Forsyth Backpack Program Board Chair, Judy Bass, emphasized the importance of community support by sharing that the organization works tirelessly to secure funding from individual donors and corporate sponsors to meet annual food costs. “One of the most creative ways we raise funds is through our annual Spelling Bee Fundraiser, which ensures weekend meals continue throughout the school year. Forsyth Backpack Program operates on financial donations from the community and we are grateful for continued and new gifts that help us fight hunger, one backpack at a time.”
Forsyth Backpack Program invites you to support their Spelling Bee Fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Masonic Center. Sponsorships and ticket information can be found on their website.
If you’d like to get involved, please visit their website to learn more about their work or to see upcoming volunteer activities for individuals and groups: www.forsythbackpackprogram.org
