PA Beef Foundation’s “Beefing Up Backpacks” Expands to Reach Nearly 8,500 Youth Across 14 Counties
Bedford, PA (October 2025) – The Pennsylvania Beef Foundation’s Beefing Up Backpacks program continues to make a strong impact in the fight against childhood hunger, delivering over 60,000 one-ounce beef sticks to backpack food programs across 14 Pennsylvania counties since its launch in May 2025.
The initiative, developed to add high-quality beef protein to weekend backpack programs, ensures children facing food insecurity receive the essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. Less than 2% of food distributed through traditional backpack programs includes animal protein—a critical gap the Foundation is determined to close.
“This program is about more than filling backpacks—it’s about filling students with nourishment, dignity, and hope,” said Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation. “By working hand in hand with local producers, processors, and hunger relief partners, we’re investing in both the health of our youth and the strength of Pennsylvania’s agricultural community.”
Since its inception, Beefing Up Backpacks has partnered with hunger relief organizations and local school districts to distribute Pennsylvania-sourced, Pennsylvania-manufactured beef sticks. To date, Beefing up Backpacks has provided beef sticks to participating programs across the state, including:
CHOP Out Hunger
Cocoa Packs
Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County
Chestnut Ridge School District
Power Packs Project
Fulton County Food Basket Back-Pack Program
Rockwood Area School District
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Juniata County Food Pantry, Inc.
Rotary Club of Latrobe – Food for Thought Program
Together, these partners have helped the program reach 8,500 children regularly across 14 counties, providing a consistent source of high-quality protein throughout the school year. The program’s success is made possible through generous support and partnership with Stoltzfus Meats and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s via the Beef Producers Working Group. Industry support has been a vital part of the collaborative success which includes but not limited too the Center for Beef Excellence, Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association, Pennsylvania Livestock Association, PA Farm Bureau Beef Committee, JBS, Happy Valley Meats, Excalibur Seasoning, WINPAK, Visko Teepak, Dairy Excellence Foundation, Farm Credit and numerous private donors.
“It’s gratifying to see Pennsylvania beef fueling Pennsylvania kids,” added Hockenberry. “Every beef stick represents the hard work of our producers and the compassion of our donors—it’s truly a community effort from pasture to backpack.”
How to Support the Effort
The Pennsylvania Beef Foundation invites individuals, organizations, and agribusinesses to help expand the program’s reach in 2026. Donations may be made by check payable to:
Pennsylvania Beef Foundation
205 S. Juliana Street Bedford, PA 15522
Please note “Beefing Up Backpacks” in the memo line.
To learn more about the Beefing Up Backpacks program or to make an online contribution, visit www.pabeef.org/about-us/pennsylvania-beef-foundation.
About the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation
The PA Beef Foundation, established in 2024, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit housed within the PA Beef Council and is committed to supporting beef industry advancement and community health through education, research, and outreach initiatives. Beefing Up Backpacks is its latest mission-driven project to help children across Pennsylvania.
Media Contact:
Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director, PA Beef Foundation & PA Beef Council, 814-623-2698, [email protected]. Website: www.pabeef.org
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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.