Our Hartford Central School BackPack program is run in conjunction with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, and provides students from food-insecure homes with nutritious, child-friendly meals on weekends, when other supplemental food programs are not available.

The need for this program was recognized by faculty and staff who took action and sought sponsors to launch the program. There has been a generous outpouring of support for the initiative that includes numerous donations from Hartford Central School retired teachers, community members, Hartford Food Pantry, Hebron UP church, Glens Falls Baptist Thrift Shop, Adirondack league, Hartford Ridge Riders, Hartford Central school student clubs, Woodmen of the World Lodge #461, and Hartford United Methodist Church.

The food for the backpacks is picked up and packed on Thursdays with the help of Mrs. Shaw, and Mrs. Harrington.  On Fridays, members of Key Club help deliver the bags.

Each bag contains approximately ten different purchased foods designed to provide nutrition and calories for the children over the weekend. These are kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods that require no preparation or refrigeration. Children can just “open and eat” without adult supervision.

The BackPack Program at Hartford Central School currently assists 30 students. Since the program’s implementation, teachers noticed a significant improvement in the well-being of participating students.  Due to the outpouring of support and donations, we are able to help any student in need. 

If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the BackPack program at Hartford Central School, please make all checks payable to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY and write Hartford BackPack Program in the memo. Checks can be mailed to: Regional Food Bank, 965 Albany- Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110

If your family could benefit from this wonderful program, please contact Trisha Shaw 518-632-5222 ext. 513 or email: tshaw@hartfordcsd.org