The Ingles Fill-A-Backpack program started in 2013 by Ingles as a way to encourage people in the Upstate counties of Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Oconee and Laurens to help at-risk children who are qualified for free or reduced price lunches have meals on the weekend. During the school week, these children are fed through their school systems, if they are lucky enough to have the funding. Our listeners are encouraged to buy an Ingles Fill A Backpack icon for $7.50 which is the cost the food bank has estimated it costs to fill the backpack with 7 simple meals and 2 snacks. Most recent estimates puts the number of at risk children, in elementary school, at 39,000.
Each of the icons has an ISCI code that ties the donation to the county where it was made. Ingles has offered a $500 gift card to encourage people to donate, but they will need to use their Ingles Advantage Card. The winner will be randomly selected within the county where they made the donation.
Harvest Hope, through their backpack program, will administer the donations and disperse the funds to food banks outside of Greenville and Laurens counties.