BRYAN, Texas – Spring break is here, and while schools are closed, the Brazos Valley Food Bank is working hard to support families in need.
For many children, spring break means one less week of free meals they usually get at school. This can be tough for families who rely on those meals. “It adds extra stress for parents,” said Theresa Mangapora, the food bank’s executive director. “Kids look to their parents for help during this time.”
To help families during the break, the food bank is offering extra assistance through its Children’s BackPack Program. This program typically provides kids with nutritious meals to take home on weekends. But during spring break, children will receive two backpacks full of food.
“It won’t completely replace the school meals, but it’s a helpful solution,” Mangapora said.
The food bank also supports various food pantries across the Brazos Valley. Mangapora mentioned that these pantries will remain open during spring break, providing a vital resource for families. “Many of them offer fresh produce and frozen meat, not just canned goods,” she shared.
Spring break also means that many food bank volunteers will be away. Mangapora noted that while the volunteers are on vacation, the food bank must continue its work. “Next week might be quieter here, but we still need to prepare the backpacks and sort food for the pantries,” she explained.
