Of the students enrolled in Seattle Public Schools, approximately 20,000 qualify for free and reduced lunch, and more than 3,000 of those students are homeless. To help support this growing concern, SCPTSA partnered with the Seattle Food Committee's Food For Schools group, a collaboration of food banks, meal programs, schools and community members that provide food backpacks for Seattle students facing weekend hunger. "Our goal is to help spread the word about how our PTA groups, schools and community members can support local food banks and make a difference," said former SCPTSA President Cassandra Johnston. 

SCPTSA kicked off their partnership with Food for Schools in September 2015 with a Backpack Summit. At the event, four breakout sessions were held to discuss Food Sourcing and Nutrition, Sustainability and Capacity, Beginning a Program run by Food Banks and Meal Programs, and Beginning a Program run by Schools and PTSAs. 

If you are interested in knowing more and getting involved, individually, as a PTA, with your employer or community group, please contact SCPTSA. For more information about Food for Schools, visit the Seattle Food Committee website.