8 years ago in a 2nd-grade classroom, Carrie Torres, Founder and Executive Director of Provision Packs came face to face with childhood hunger.  “The two boys stood in separate corners of the classroom, away from the holiday festivities, both inhaling their food with euphoria and desperation.  It reminded me of a boxing match, except this was no game…this was childhood hunger and that is the day my life changed.”  1 in 5 children is at risk of going to bed hungry in Central Florida, especially on weekends when the free and reduced breakfast and lunch program offered by the schools is not available.  “I, like many, assumed that there were enough programs in place to make sure that at the very least our children were being fed.  I had no idea how many non-title one schools were challenged with serving the underserved in our community” says Torres. “My intention was to temporarily serve a few students until I could bring in the calvary, I quickly realized that there was no calvary and in the words of Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  With that Torres recruited friends and family to help feed upwards of two dozen students at the first school and with a pleading call from another elementary school Provision Packs was born.

Our mission at Provision Packs is to provide well-balanced supplemental nutrition for weekends and extended holidays.  Each pack offers children portions of 8-10 meals, and each pack is discretely placed in the child’s backpack on Friday afternoon with the hopes of closing the gap on childhood hunger.  Discretion, ease and accessibility are of the utmost importance to the Provision Packs organization.  All that is required is the parents’ permission. No statistics or analytical data is required from the parents or the schools. As Torres explained: “This allows us to reach more children and encourages my schools to participate, however, it knocks us out of most grants and state funding.  This is where our community steps in and feeds the need.  I wanted to create a movement…an opportunity for our community to come together. Whether you had $5.00 or $500 dollars you can make a difference and the best part is it all stays right here…. feeding our kids today, and tomorrow’s future.”

As a result of the limiting availability of grants and state funding, Provision Packs relies heavily on our local businesses, volunteers, individuals and our AMAZING fundraisers.   The first event of this upcoming school year is our Backpack Bash on September 23rd at the Forever Ranch Ormond Beach from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm. Tickets are just $50 and includes food from local restaurants, outdoor games, a huge silent auction, live music from local favorite Hayfire and much more!

Provision Packs serves 15 schools, upwards of 800 students per week for approximately 36 weeks per year in Volusia and Flagler counties.  “Our food costs alone for the 2023-2024 school year is $250,000.   Provision Packs survived the pandemic and inflation, but this year we will cut it close. For our non-profit we are hit twice: increased food costs and increased demand. We have been blessed by this community and I have faith that together we will rise to meet the need.”

Visit www,provisionpacks.org to make a donation, purchase event tickets and for more information.