Hartford Nonprofit Receives Large Donation To Feed Children

The donation to Hands On Hartford will support weekend meals for 230 local students.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Hands On Hartford, a Hartford-based nonprofit, has received a $10,000 donation from DoorDash to support its Backpack Nutrition Program, which provides weekend meals to over 230 Hartford schoolchildren facing food insecurity. The program distributes backpacks filled with meals, fresh fruit, drinks, snacks, and school supplies every Friday during the school year.

Why it matters

The donation comes at a critical time for the program, as it faces a $60,000 shortfall following the loss of a federal grant that had supported the purchase of fresh fruit for the backpacks. The program aims to fill the gap in nutrition that many students face on weekends when they do not have access to free school meals.

The details

The Backpack Nutrition Program distributes the backpacks to students across seven Hartford schools. While many students receive free breakfast and lunch during the week, the program ensures they have access to meals on the weekends as well. The $10,000 donation from DoorDash through its Community Credits program will help the program continue to provide this essential service to Hartford's vulnerable families.

  • The donation was announced last month at an event in Hartford.
  • The Backpack Nutrition Program distributes the backpacks every Friday during the school year.

The players

Hands On Hartford

A Hartford-based nonprofit that runs the Backpack Nutrition Program.

DoorDash

A food delivery company that provided a $10,000 donation to Hands On Hartford through its Community Credits program.

Arunan Arulampalam

The mayor of Hartford, who spoke at the event announcing the donation.

Janet Bermudez

The executive director of Hands On Hartford.

Daniela Michanie

The head of Northeast public engagement at DoorDash.

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What they’re saying

“No child in Hartford should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from when they leave school on Friday afternoon.”

— Arunan Arulampalam, Mayor of Hartford (Patch.com)

“No family should have to worry about their children not having enough to eat over the weekend. Our program helps ease that burden for 230 children by providing a backpack with breakfast, lunch, and fresh fruit throughout the school year. This commitment to our community would not be possible without the generous support of partners like DoorDash, and we are deeply grateful for their response to our call to action.”

— Janet Bermudez, Executive Director of Hands On Hartford (Patch.com)

“For many students, schools are not only a place to learn, but they are also the only place they can count on receiving the nutrition they need to succeed. Organizations like Hands on Hartford support students, ensuring that they receive essential meals not only during the week, but also over the weekend. Community Credits are designed to support the work local organizations are already doing to fight hunger in their communities, and we are proud of our partnership with Hands On Hartford to keep children fed over the weekend in the capital city.”

— Daniela Michanie, Head of Northeast Public Engagement at DoorDash (Patch.com)

What’s next

The program will continue to distribute the backpacks filled with meals, fresh fruit, drinks, snacks, and school supplies to over 230 students across seven Hartford schools every Friday during the school year.

The takeaway

This donation from DoorDash to Hands On Hartford's Backpack Nutrition Program highlights the important role that community partnerships and private sector support can play in addressing food insecurity among vulnerable children, especially when faced with the loss of critical government funding.