“For many of us in the Lake Norman area, when we say ‘there’s nothing to eat in the house,’ we mean there aren’t any foods we really want to eat at the moment. For the families we serve, when they open their fridge or pantry, it’s completely empty. Food insecurity is more than just being hungry — students can also encounter cognitive and behavioral issues when they don’t eat regularly.”
That’s a profound quote from Ashley Nydish, President of Bags of Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which supplies free weekend food provisions to school children who experience food insecurity in the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte area. Students experiencing hunger due to inadequate nutrition may also suffer from impaired concentration and learning, social and behavioral problems, and even threatened health and development.
Bags of Hope has grown from three church “backpack” ministries into a strong nonprofit, that distributed 26,251 food bags, representing a total of 221,739 meals and 201,000 pounds of food during the 2024-2025 school year. Up to 943 students at 34 schools received a backpack of food every weekend of the school year thanks to 96,726 pounds of food donated from individuals, businesses and organizations.
Each weekend of the last school year, an average of 750 students received a food bag containing three dinners, two breakfasts, two lunches, two to three servings of fruits, two servings of vegetables and five snacks. In addition, students received extended break bags of food over Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break. Many of the students served receive free or reduced-price school meals, ensuring adequate nutrition during school hours (which includes breakfast and lunch).
“While we’re meeting these food needs each weekend, our goal is to change a student’s entire future and provide opportunities for lifelong success,” shares Ashley. “We want to make a difference beyond just the weekend. Bags of Hope has become a reliable source of support for food for so many schools and their families, and I’m honored to work with Program Director Nicole Fiehler, the board and our exceptional team of volunteers who make it happen each week.”
Gearing up for a new school year coming soon, Bags of Hope invites you to join their Annual Back-to-School Food Drive on August 23rd from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Since the nonprofit doesn’t distribute weekend food bags during summer vacation, this year’s goal is to collect 28,000 pounds of food to help restock their warehouse to kick off the new school year!
HOW — Neighborhood challenge! Neighborhood ambassadors will distribute brown grocery bags in participating communities — each with a flyer including the list of food items needed. Businesses, gyms, sports teams and other groups can also participate.
WHO/WHEN — They need a Neighborhood Ambassador for each neighborhood! You can also participate as a business or other group (scout troop, sports team, gym, etc.) — the more the merrier! You’ll help distribute bags in your neighborhood or business and pick them back up, filled with food donations, for drop-off at the Bags of Hope warehouse on Saturday, August 23rd. The warehouse is located at 10308 Bailey Road, #413, Cornelius, NC, 28031.
“As a mom, I can’t imagine the stress families feel when struggling to provide their children with basic necessities like food. My mom spent almost 30 years as a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and I saw how she personally helped her students in so many ways over the years — and there are so many teachers who still do this today.”
Examples of appropriate donation items include:
- Canned pasta (ravioli, SpaghettiOs, etc.)
- Ramen noodles (individual packs or cups)
- Hormel Compleat meals
- Mac & Cheese (boxes or cups)
- Peanut butter (small jars work best)
- Oatmeal packs (boxes of individual packs)
- Canned vegetables (green beans, corn, carrots — think kid friendly!)
- Applesauce, fruit cups or canned fruit
- Individually packed snacks (granola bars, chips, cookies, crackers)
- Also accepted are $20 grocery store gift cards throughout the year which are sent home with students over Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break (Food Lion is best for the families served by Bags of Hope).
Join their mission to have students well-fed, well-rested and ready to learn on Monday morning! If you’d like to be a Neighborhood Ambassador during the August Food Drive, email [email protected], and follow@BagsofHopeLKN on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Visit bagsofhopeLKN.com for more information on donating or volunteering throughout the school year.
