Beefing Up Backpacks Launches Virtual Food Drive This November to Support Kids in Need
Bedford, PA (November 11, 2025)— November is a month full of gratitude and giving, and the Beefing Up Backpacks program through the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation is inviting everyone to join in that spirit. Through the Thanksgiving season, the program will host a Virtual Food Drive to raise awareness and funds to help fight childhood hunger in Pennsylvania.
All funds raised will directly support the mission to place more nutritious, shelf-stable beef sticks in weekend food backpacks distributed to youth in need across the state—while also sharing the important role beef plays in Pennsylvania agriculture.
The Beefing Up Backpacks program helps bridge the nutritional gap faced by food-insecure students. Currently, less than two percent of backpack contents include animal protein. By providing 1-oz beef sticks made from high-quality, PA-sourced beef, the program ensures kids receive an essential source of protein, zinc, and iron to support healthy growth and learning.
“Something as simple as a beef stick can make a powerful difference,” said Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director of the PA Beef Foundation. “It provides nourishment, connects students to our state’s farmers, and shows how agriculture plays a role in building healthier communities.”
Throughout November, the PA Beef Foundation and its partners will encourage supporters to “give the gift of providing food to those in need—with a delicious beef stick,” said Hockenberry. Every contribution helps place more beef sticks in backpacks—and provides essential nutrition for Pennsylvania kids.
To learn more or donate to the Virtual Food Drive, visit www.pabeef.org/about-us/pennsylvania-beef-foundation
Image Attached: Beefing Up Backpacks Virtual Food Drive Facts and Donation Information
Media Contact: Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director, PA Beef Foundation & PA Beef Council, 814-623-2698, [email protected]. Website: www.pabeef.org
To learn more about PBPS contact Nichole Hockenberry, PA Beef Council Executive Director at [email protected] or 1-888-4BEEFPA.
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The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.