The demand to provide meals to children in need skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic forcing Backpack Buddies to expand efforts to feed more kids than ever, says one of its founders.

Emily-anne King is the vice-president and co-founder of the Vancouver-based program that is targeting what she calls ‘the weekend hunger gap,’ when there may not be enough food at home. 

“You hear often about breakfast and lunch programs at school, but don’t often consider what’s happening to those children on the weekends who rely on that