Raleigh | October 22, 2015: The Junior League of Raleigh (JLR) announced today that it will expand its InterFaith Food Shuttle BackPack Buddies partnership for the 2015/2016 school year. During the 2015-2016 year, the JLR will serve 100 Raleigh area children, an increase of 27% over the previous year, between Lacy and Hunter Elementary Schools.

In 2010 the Junior League of Raleigh partnered with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to establish BackPack Buddies – a program designed to combat childhood hunger in the Triangle. “In North Carolina, 1 in 5 kids under the age of 18 does not have enough to eat, making our state the ninth highest in the country for child food insecurity”, said Kathryn West, President, Junior League of Raleigh. “We believe hunger is unacceptable for youth in Wake County”, said West, “and we are thrilled that the program has been able to expand to include more children across our community.”

Children benefiting from this program are identified and selected through school officials including school principals, guidance counselors and the various after-school programs associated with their school. At the end of each week, students are delivered nutritious meals and snacks, including fresh fruits and shelf stable food and milk, for the weekend. “The Junior League of Raleigh’s BackPack Buddies program has brought together so many individuals and organizations who share a common belief and commitment in doing what is right for food-insecure children in Wake County”, said Randi Ligon, BackPack Buddies Co-Captain.

The Junior League of Raleigh has a dedicated BackPack Buddies team of over forty women devoted to the program. These volunteers solicit and collect donations, sort, package, and deliver food weekly to Lacy and Hunter Elementary for the children. The Junior League of Raleigh began donations in August and will continue participation until the culmination of 2015-2016 school year. For more information about this program or to donate food or funds, please contact The Junior League of Raleigh at backpack@jlraleigh.org.

About the Junior League of Raleigh

The Junior League of Raleigh is the local chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, volunteerism. Now in its 86th year, the Junior League of Raleigh boasts nearly 1,600 women supporting community organizations around Wake County