Gorham BackPack Program

06/01/2026

We are so grateful for the generosity of our community! Thank you to everyone who has already donated or dropped off items for our Summer Boxes.

If you have a donation at home, please drop it off at Gorham Middle School as soon as possible. We are currently taking inventory and identifying any remaining needs before we begin packing this week.

If you are still interested in donating, please reach out to Heather Whitaker ([email protected]) directly to find out what is still needed.

Thank you for helping us make sure our kids have what they need this summer!

Each year, students who receive the BackPack Program are sent home at the end of the school year with a box of non-perishable food items. This support helps families bridge the gap as school meal programs come to an end for the summer.

You can support by:
🥫 Donating individually
⚽ Organizing a collection through a sports team or club
🏢 Collecting items at your business or office
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sharing with family and friends

We have created a Sign Up Genius with suggested items that can be purchased and donated.
📱 Scan the QR code to sign up!
🔗 The link to the Sign Up Genius will also be posted in the comments.

Every donation makes a difference for local students and families. Please consider helping and SHARE this post widely so we can reach as many people as possible before June 1st. ❤️

05/11/2026

Each year, students who receive the BackPack Program are sent home at the end of the school year with a box of non-perishable food items. This support helps families bridge the gap as school meal programs come to an end for the summer.

You can support by:
🥫 Donating individually
⚽ Organizing a collection through a sports team or club
🏢 Collecting items at your business or office
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sharing with family and friends

We have created a Sign Up Genius with suggested items that can be purchased and donated.
📱 Scan the QR code to sign up!
🔗 The link to the Sign Up Genius will also be posted in the comments.

Every donation makes a difference for local students and families. Please consider helping and SHARE this post widely so we can reach as many people as possible before June 1st. ❤️

04/15/2026

We could really use your help this month.

Our BackPack Program donations, both food items and monetary, have been significantly down, and recently we’ve had to leave some items out of our packs. Our next packing is coming up on Tuesday, April 28, and we’re hoping to restock and fully support our students.

🛒 Most Needed Items:
🥛 Individual milk cartons
🥣 Individual cereal cups (Honey Nut Cheerios or Frosted Mini Wheats)

If you’re able to donate, items can be dropped off or shipped directly to Gorham Middle School (details in the flyer).

We’re also now accepting online donations—and 100% of those donations go directly to our program. Even $10 helps provide a weekend bag for a student.

Every single donation makes a difference. Thank you for helping us take care of our students and families.

03/23/2026

The Gorham BackPack Program is collecting the following items to support our Weekend Bags. Please share!

03/18/2026

We have some exciting news to share! 🎉

The Gorham Backpack Program is thrilled to partner with Full Plates Full Potential to make giving easier than ever. Thanks to their support, we are now able to accept online debit and credit card donations—something that has been a challenge for our organization in the past.

Want to help? It’s simple! Just visit the link provided, complete the online donation form, and be sure to select Gorham Backpack Program as your recipient.

Even better—100% of your donation comes directly to us (100%... we promise!) and helps provide weekend food support to students right here in our community.

We are so grateful for this partnership and for all of you who continue to support our mission. Together, we are making a difference! 💛

03/10/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Westbrook-Gorham Rotary for their continued support of the Gorham Backpack Program!

Recently, Rotary members helped purchase more than $300 in much-needed groceries—including peanut butter, jelly, and tuna fish—to help stock our weekend food bags for students. Their generosity ensures that children in our community have access to nutritious food when school is not in session.

The Rotary’s support goes far beyond this recent donation. Through their ongoing contributions of volunteer time and food items, they continue to make a meaningful difference for the families we serve.

We are so fortunate to have such amazing community support. Thank you, Westbrook-Gorham Rotary!

02/27/2026

A huge thank you to Gorham Cooperative Preschool for organizing a food drive to support the Backpack Program! 💙

We are so grateful for this thoughtful act of community care and partnership. Thank you for making a difference for our students and families!

02/10/2026

We are looking for reusable shopping bags, Hannaford size, to pack with extra food for over February vacation for some families who need more than the Weekend Bag. If you have one to spare, please drop off at the GMS office. I will be packing bags on Thursday. Thank you!

01/15/2026

A huge thank you to Chalmers Insurance Group Gorham for their incredibly generous $500 donation to the Gorham BackPack Program!

This gift helps us purchase food for weekend backpack bags, support our snack program, and stock the pantry at Gorham High School—all resources that make a real difference for students and families in our community.

Chalmers has been a partner since our early days, and they continue to show up in meaningful ways, including sending volunteers from their office to help with every packing as part of their Chalmers Cares initiative. That kind of commitment matters.

We are so thankful for Chalmers and their ongoing support. They care and we feel it!

12/17/2025

🎒💚 Huge Thank You to the Gorham Girl Scouts Troop 1201!

We are incredibly grateful to the Gorham Girl Scouts, Troop 1201, for packing 120 snack bags as part of this week’s Gorham BackPack Program delivery! Community support like this helps ensure our students are nourished, supported, and ready to learn.

📦 Looking Ahead to Our Next Packing: January 6th
When we return from vacation, we’ll be packing again! I’ve included a photo of our upcoming packing list. We’ve also added single-serve, shelf-stable milk as we continue to review our list and make thoughtful swaps for affordable, healthier options.

🛒 How You Can Help
If you’d like to donate food items for our January 6 packing:
➜Purchase items in the next few days and drop them off at Gorham Middle School, or
➜Mail donations to:
Gorham BackPack Program
ATTN: Heather Whitaker
Gorham Middle School
106 Weeks Rd
Gorham, ME 04038

📌 I’ll attach our wishlist in the comments. (Similar items can be purchased online from stores like Walmart and Sam’s Club and delivered directly to the school.)

We are so thankful for your continued support and truly couldn’t do this work without community partnerships like the Girl Scouts—please be sure to give them a big shout-out, along with everyone who donates to support our students! 💚