Hartford Nonprofit Receives Large Donation To Feed Children

HARTFORD, CT — Hands On Hartford has received a $10,000 donation from DoorDash to support its Backpack Nutrition Program, which provides weekend meals to Hartford schoolchildren facing food insecurity.

The donation, made through DoorDash’s Community Credits program, was announced last month at an event in Hartford featuring Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.

The Backpack Nutrition Program distributes backpacks filled with meals, fresh fruit, drinks, snacks, and school supplies every Friday during the school year to more than 230 students across seven Hartford schools.

While many students receive free breakfast and lunch during the week, the program aims to fill the gap on weekends.

The contribution comes as the program faces a $60,000 shortfall following the loss of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance grant in 2025.

The grant had supported the purchase of fresh fruit for the backpacks.

“No child in Hartford should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from when they leave school on Friday afternoon,” Arulampalam said.

“In the face of significant federal funding cuts, our community partners are stepping up to ensure that our students remain fed, healthy, and ready to learn. I am grateful to DoorDash and Hands On Hartford for their collaboration in closing the weekend hunger gap and for their unwavering commitment to the well-being of our city’s most vulnerable families."

Janet Bermudez, executive director of Hands On Hartford, said the program provides backpacks with breakfast, lunch and fresh fruit throughout the school year.

“No family should have to worry about their children not having enough to eat over the weekend,” Bermudez said. “Our program helps ease that burden for 230 children by providing a backpack with breakfast, lunch, and fresh fruit throughout the school year. This commitment to our community would not be possible without the generous support of partners like DoorDash, and we are deeply grateful for their response to our call to action.”

According to Hands On Hartford, about 62 percent of participating families report annual household incomes below $15,000.

Because food is often shared among siblings, the program’s reach extends beyond enrolled students, benefiting an estimated 800 children each year.

Daniela Michanie, head of Northeast public engagement at DoorDash, said schools are often a consistent source of meals for students.

“For many students, schools are not only a place to learn, but they are also the only place they can count on receiving the nutrition they need to succeed,” Michanie said.

“Organizations like Hands on Hartford support students, ensuring that they receive essential meals not only during the week, but also over the weekend. Community Credits are designed to support the work local organizations are already doing to fight hunger in their communities, and we are proud of our partnership with Hands On Hartford to keep children fed over the weekend in the capital city.”

For more information on Hands on Hartford, click on this link.