Can you help provide a backpack full of food for hungry kids?

When the holiday season arrives, it serves as more than a reminder to be thankful or to cherish our loved ones. Sadly, it is also a reminder of the many among us who need help.

One Kitsap County group is taking this time to help feed the hungry children in its community.

“We send food home to supplement breakfasts and lunches that they get free or reduced during the week at school,” said Kathy Ungren with Kitsap Food Backpacks 4 Kids.

“We have been so successful in doing this, during our second year we’ve quadrupled our numbers,” she told KIRO Radio’s Ron and Don.

Kitsap Food Backpacks 4 Kids is an organization that provides what its name implies: backpacks full of food for hungry kids in the Kitsap County region. When the effort began a couple years ago, they handed out nearly 40 backpacks a week. That has grown to more than 200 per week this year.

The problem &#8212 aside from the fact that there are hungry children out there &#8212 is that the organization receives more than 1,000 requests for the backpacks.

“We are looking for food to fill the backpacks,” Ungren said. “Every Thursday, we bring 5 pounds of food for each child that is enrolled.”

They are asking for help in the form of food donations from the Puget Sound’s charitable residents. It is collecting food from now until Dec. 31.

But more than food, the program is raising money through a GoFundMe account. Their goal is $75,000. As of publishing this article, they have raised $1,215.

People who wish to donate food can contact the organization through their website or Facebook page. People can also call 360-536-7904 or 360-710-9584, or email kitsapfoodbackpacks4kids@gmail.com.

They are seeking donations such as:

• Instant oatmeal

• Breakfast bars

• Pancake mix

• Canned protein

• Soup, stew, chili

• Gluten-free items

• Peanut butter