When schoolchildren think of backpacks they may sigh with the thought of a heavy load of books and the nagging homework assignments which take the fun out of the weekend.

For some in the Sumner School District, backpacks mean something much better.

The Sumner Food Bank is pairing with the district for a backpack drive to provide packs full of food for the weekends.

School officials provide the food bank with the number of backpacks needed and the bag is stocked with food to keep the students fed over the weekend.

Sumner Food Bank worker Tim Tallon said the bags are dropped off at the schools on Friday so the kids can have them during the weekend.

“There are some kids that don’t get fed well over the weekend,” he said.

Tallon said the total number of bags the food bank needs to fill isn’t yet known.

“Right now we’re just starting to get calls from the schools,” he said.

He said the bags are filled with food like small boxes of cereal, packages of oatmeal, tuna and cracker snack packs and small containers of macaroni and cheese. People wishing to donate may supply this or other non-perishable food.

The program continues through the end of the school year.

Donations can be made at the Sumner Food Bank at 15625 Main St. E.