Mission & Activities

The Junior League of Winston-Salem (JLWS) partners with the Forsyth Backpack Program to help feed students from Cook Literacy Model School on weekends and holidays, when they do not have access to free breakfast and lunch at school.

Each week our committee members pack and distribute food at the school on Friday mornings and prior to any school break. This food goes home with students in their backpacks. We work with the school counselors to identify which students qualify and can apply for the program. Forsyth Backpack provides the nonperishable food and delivers it to the school in bulk deliveries. We rely on donations from community members and JLWS volunteers to include fresh fruit.

The JLWS also hosts an annual food drive to stock Cook’s food pantry for use during the summer and holiday breaks. At Cook, more than 90% of the student body is considered economically disadvantaged and their food pantry not only serves 250 students in Pre-K through 5th grade, but families, and the wider community as well.

Impact

Last year we served over 50 children, which is approximately 2100+ food bags packed and delivered to Cook students over the course of the school year! We also donated over 330 items for their community pantry through our food drive.

Get Involved

How can you help?

The JLWS hosts an annual food drive for the Cook food pantry. All non-perishable food donations are welcome, but some of our most requested items include: shelf stable milk, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, beef stew, rice, spam, canned chicken, cup of noodles, mini ravioli, fruit cups, applesauce, canned potatoes, canned carrots, peanut butter, graham crackers, individual cereal, instant grits, and pop tarts.

Do you have a donation now? Please email backpack@jlws.org to coordinate pick up/drop off.

Monetary gifts to the Junior League help support programs like Backpack. If you want to support the League’s impact on our shared community, you can make your gift here