Stock the Bins, Feed the Future: 2025 Back to School Drive

As school bells prepare to ring across Pinellas and Manatee Counties, a powerful community effort is underway. The Kind Mouse’s 2025 Back to School Food Drive unites families, businesses, and volunteers to fight weekend hunger before the academic year begins. By stocking collection bins with nutritious, snack-size items, we help ensure students return to school fueled, focused, and ready to succeed.

Why the Back-to-School Food Drive Matters

Food insecurity doesn’t follow the school calendar. While students often receive meals during school days, weekends create critical nutrition gaps. That’s where Mouse Nibbles comes in—our weekend and after-school snack packs designed to support children during out-of-school hours. These snacks bridge the gap, keeping students nourished, alert, and engaged during the times when support is needed most. The Back to School Food Drive kicks off this essential service for the school year and strengthens our mission to end weekend hunger.

How the 2025 Back to School Drive Works

From August 18 to September 5, 2025, The Kind Mouse will equip local partners with branded Collection Bins along with literature, handouts on suggested foods, and signage. Here’s how the process works:

1. Bin Deployment: Bins are delivered to schools, businesses, and faith-based organizations—complete with instructions and promotional materials.

2. Community Collection: Donors fill bins with non-expired, snack-size nonperishable items.

3. Pickup and Sorting: Volunteers collect full bins and sort the items at our St. Petersburg pantry.

4. Packaging: Snacks are assembled into Mouse Nibbles or shelved for approved partner programs.

5. Distribution: Snack packs are delivered to schools, after-school programs, and family resource centers for weekend distribution to children.

This streamlined system ensures that healthy snacks reach students quickly and consistently.

Key Dates and 2025 Drive Goals

📅 August 18 – September 5, 2025 This year, our drive aims to:

• Collect and assemble 30,000 Mouse Nibbles snack packs

• Raise $25,000 to purchase additional snacks and support logistics

• Engage 700 volunteers across collection, sorting, and packing

• Expand into Manatee County to fill gaps in food-insecure neighborhoods

Every dollar donated provides three balanced snacks for a child in need—making your support go a long way.

What to Donate: Snack-Size Essentials

To maximize nutrition and convenience, The Kind Mouse asks for non-expired, easy-open, shelf-stable items. Ideal donations include:

Snack Item	Benefits
Granola bars	Whole grains, fiber, quick energy
Protein bars	Sustained satiety, muscle recovery
Cheese or peanut butter packs	Protein, healthy fats
Individual cereal cups	Carbohydrates, vitamins
Fruit cups or applesauce pouches	Vitamins, hydration
Shelf-stable milk or dairy-free boxes	Calcium, vitamin D

These snacks support stable blood sugar levels and improve weekend nutrition for children across both counties.

Volunteer Roles: Hands-On Impact

Volunteers are the heart of our drive. Join us for opportunities such as:

• Collection Bin Delivery and Retrieval

• Snack Sorting and Quality Checks

• Mouse Nibbles Assembly

• Data Entry and Volunteer Management

• Community Outreach and Event Support

Whether you're a student, retiree, or corporate team, your time makes a lasting difference.

Community Collaboration Across Counties

This year’s drive will serve students and families in both Pinellas and Manatee Counties. Our success depends on active partnerships with:

• Local Businesses: Hosting bins, matching donations

• Schools: Engaging student councils and clubs

• Faith-Based Organizations: Coordinating drives and raising awareness

• Civic Groups: Volunteering and amplifying our mission

Together, we’re building a united front against hunger—one snack at a time.

Past Success: A Foundation to Build On

In 2024, The Kind Mouse’s Back-to-School Food Drive:

• Served 1,719 individuals across schools and agencies

• Delivered Mouse Nibbles to 29 schools and community agencies

• Collected in-kind food donations valued at $28,808.10

• Raised additional funds and volunteer hours through CRM and Volunteer Local

These achievements reflect the collective power of a compassionate community—and we’re building on that momentum this year.

How to Donate Online

Supporting the drive is easy and impactful:

1. Visit our donation page: Back to School Donation →

2. Make a one-time or recurring gift

3. Sponsor a Collection Bin or a classroom’s snack packs

4. Share your impact online and encourage others to give

Every dollar donated = 3 Mouse Nibbles snack packs for a local child.

Corporate and Group Engagement

Businesses and groups can lead the charge with:

• Hosting Collection Bins in offices

• Organizing snack drive competitions

• Matching employee contributions

• Coordinating volunteer sorting shifts

It’s a fun and meaningful way to give back and build team spirit.

The Ripple Effect of Your Support

When you give time, snacks, or dollars, you create:

• Better student focus and academic performance

• Fewer weekend hunger worries for families

• Stronger community connections across counties

• A sense of purpose and leadership for all involved

Your small act creates a huge impact—reaching kids who need nourishment, stability, and hope.

Ready to Get Involved?

1. Sign up to host a Collection Bin

2. Volunteer at our St. Petersburg pantry

3. Spread the word with flyers and social media posts

4. Organize a snack drive at your workplace or school

Every hand lifted, every snack donated, brings us one step closer to ending weekend hunger for students in Pinellas and Manatee Counties.

Join Us This Year

The Kind Mouse’s 2025 Back to School Food Drive is more than just a seasonal event—it’s a movement. Join us from August 18 to September 5, 2025, to stock the bins, feed the future, and ignite hope in every backpack across Pinellas and Manatee Counties.

Car Credit and Nuevo en US Partner with The Kind Mouse to Fight Hunger

At Car Credit and Nuevo en US, we believe in giving back to the community and making a meaningful impact. That’s why we are proud to partner with The Kind Mouse, an incredible organization dedicated to providing hunger relief to children and families in need. Hunger is a challenge no child should face, and The Kind Mouse is working tirelessly to ensure that children in our community have access to the meals they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Through this partnership, we are committed to supporting their mission of feeding little tummies and bringing hope to families struggling with food insecurity.

Together, we can make a difference. Join us in supporting The Kind Mouse and creating a brighter future for those in need. Because when we come together, we can ensure that no child goes hungry.