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Program Description Summarize the program services proposed and how the program will address a Town/County priority/goal? The Weekend Meal Backpack Program (WMBP) is TABLE’s school year hunger relief program for hungry children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC. Currently, 30% of kids in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System (preschool, elementary and middle schools) rely on free and subsidized school breakfasts and lunches during the week. Consequently, they often go hungry on weekends and school vacations when those free meals are not available. TABLE works to meet their need for emergency healthy food during those times. At the end of each week, TABLE distributes fresh produce and healthy non-perishables to participating kids. Receiving this emergency food aid each week allows children to return to school Mondays not ravenous - but ready to learn. TABLE’s W MBP primarily addresses the Town/County priority to improve health and nutrition of local kids by providing them with healthy non-perishables, produce, and fresh milk every single week. According to a pool of surveyed parents in spring 2017, below is some of the information we learned about children who had been participating in TABLE’s WMBP for more than one year:  Children always tried new food 38% of the time before receiving healthy food from TABLE. After receiving weekly food from TABLE, children always tried new foods 62% of the time.  Children always ate healthy foods 59% of the time compared to 74% after participating in TABLE’s WMBP.  41% of children were eating junk food all the time before receiving food from TABLE compared to 26% after participating in the WMBP. Secondarily, however, it is evident that the W MBP directly addresses the other two Town/County priorities as well: 1) WMBP improves the opportunity for a good education for local kids because they are able to focus on their schoolwork instead of their grumbling bellies as well as miss fewer school days because of frequent sickness. According to parent responses in this same survey, TABLE also saw a 12% increase in children getting above average grades after participating in TABLE’s WMBP for more than one year. This is the second year that we have measured this data with positive results and we will continue to measure it annually. 2) WMBP also serves as a safety- net for parents and families of children because it allows parents to put more of their funds toward other bills like rent, utilities, fuel or transportation, providing families with additional opportunities they may not otherwise have. Describe the community need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Chapel Hill Human Services Needs Assessment, Orange County BOCC Goals and Priorities, Town of Chapel Hill Council Goals, Carrboro Board Priorities, or other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Reference local data (using th e provided links, i.e. Chapel Hill Human Services Needs Assessment) to support the need for this program. TABLE’s hunger relief programs target food-insecure preschool, elementary, and middle school children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC. During the current 2017/2018 school year, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System let us know that 30% of children