If there's one thing Senoia knows how to do, it's show up for each other. And for more than a decade, Backpack Buddies of Georgia has been at the center of that mission—quietly making sure local children have the food they need when school isn't in session.
The organization began in 2011 when April Anderson, then serving with her husband Brent at Senoia Vineyard Church, attended a conference where the speaker asked, "If the doors of your church closed tomorrow, would your community even notice?" That question sparked an idea that became a movement.
April soon learned there were more than 200 homeless children in Coweta County at the time. With no nonprofit experience but a clear vision, she launched Backpack Buddies—initially serving just 20 children at Jefferson Park and Atkinson Elementary Schools. From those first bags of food packed around a church table, the program has grown into a lifeline for thousands.
Today, Backpack Buddies provides weekend and break-time bags for nearly 2,000 students across Coweta County. Every week, volunteers pack and deliver bags of nutritious food to schools, ensuring that children who rely on school meals don't go hungry over the weekend. The organization also assembles "Break Bags" for Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring, and summer breaks—four critical times when the need is greatest.
Lori Burnett and Nicole McNutt joined April in 2017 and 2018 respectively, bringing years of women's ministry experience and logistical know-how to help expand the mission. Together, the three built a volunteer network that runs like a family. Each Wednesday morning, the warehouse fills with homeschool families, retirees, and special-needs volunteers who pack hundreds of bags while laughing, praying, and sharing life together.
The ripple effects of Backpack Buddies reach far beyond what anyone could've imagined when it began. Recently, a former student who once received weekend food bags returned to visit the team. Now a college student and newly engaged, she came back simply to say thank you. She shared how receiving those bags during difficult years reminded her that she wasn't forgotten—and that people cared. That moment served as a great reminder of the impact and need that the efforts meet.
That same spirit of impact extends to the volunteers who serve. Longtime team members Karen Smith, Patrick Housman, and Kevin King joined Lori and Nicole years ago, and together they became known as the "Fab Five." Their bond was forged through the challenges of the pandemic and the devastation of the 2021 Newnan tornado — seasons that tested the community but also revealed its strength. Through countless hours of packing food, coordinating deliveries, and encouraging one another, the Fab Five discovered that the work they were doing didn't just change lives — it changed their own.
Backpack Buddies also partners with Bridging the Gap to serve children during summer break and collaborates with Elevate Coweta Students, an organization offering mentorship and guidance to local youth. Together, they've found that hunger and hope often intersect—and both can be addressed through compassion and consistency.
And while April, Lori, and Nicole are proud of how far Backpack Buddies has come, they share one ultimate goal: to one day not be needed at all because hunger has been eliminated.
Local businesses have stepped up to help keep that goal within reach. Hometown Hardware, for example, is once again supporting Backpack Buddies with its Ravioli Can Food Drive and Pictures with Santa event on December 6. Santa will arrive by fire truck at 1:00 p.m., with a bounce house, hot chocolate, and complimentary photos with Santa for families to enjoy. The Backpack Buddies van will be on-site collecting donations — and best of all, Hometown Hardware will match contributions up to 700 cans. For many families, $25 a month can feed one child all year through weekends, breaks, and summer vacation. Every donation, volunteer hour, and can of food helps ensure no child faces hunger alone.
JOIN THE PACK
You can make a difference right here in Coweta County: Sponsor a child: $25/month provides weekend and break meals for one student. Volunteer: Pack bags, organize food drives, or join the Wednesday morning crew. Donate: Every dollar stretches further through partnerships like the Atlanta Food Bank.
Learn more or get involved at www.backpackbuddiesga.org — and help keep Coweta County's children fed, one backpack at a time.