The Costello Family — Isobel, Olivia, Magdalen, and their parents Dawn & John, are best known in Sussex County for the founding and administration of The Weekend Bag Program (WBP) , a teen- run and managed non-profit designed to address food and hygiene insecurity. Isobel, who is now in graduate school, realized that some of her classmates at Newton High School were not eating between subsidized lunch on Friday until subsidized breakfast on Monday morning. Over time, the entire family has been heavily involved in the program–storing food and hygiene products in their basement, fundraising from various businesses and not-for-profit organizations, training and supervising various volunteer groups, packing and delivering bags for students in 24 Sussex County schools. At its inception, the Weekend Bag Program served students at Newton High School exclusively. That number has now grown from 28 in 2016 to over 280 students in 24 schools — to date, they have provided over 244,000 meals.

The hallmarks of the WBP are that it involves sustained giving over time, meets a critical need in the community, is anonymous and accessible to program participants, integrates actively with many local businesses, and strengthens the Sussex County community.

• Sustained Giving Over Time: The WBP has been active for almost nine (9) years, fueled by the same leadership as when it was launched by Isobel Costello in 2016; in contrast to a one time “stuff the bus,” “mitzvah project,” or winter coat drive, the Costello sisters and their parents have kept this program flourishing since its inception. On top of school, extra-curricular, and part-time employment, the Costello sisters have dedicated 15-20 hours/week to WBP fundraising, bag-packing, delivery, marketing and meetings. Dawn and John both work full-time and actively support all aspects of the WBP.
• Meeting a Critical Need: These bags are mission critical — if they are short supplies to fill a bag, a student who depends on it for their weekend food does not eat. Most participating students are on the government -subsidized meal program. The WBP enables its participants to eat throughout the weekend!
• Anonymity: Participating students discretely pick up their weekend bag from a school administrative office — there is no paperwork to complete, or approval to be given—dignity prevails!
• Easy Access and Preparation for Participants: In contrast to a traditional food bank or pantry, the weekend bags are delivered to the participating schools. Most participating students and their families do not have access to transportation. The contents of the bags are all items that children as young as kindergarten can prepare for themselves, without reliance on parents, guardians, or shelter employees.
• Donor Allyship: The Costello family integrates extensively with local businesses. Shop-Rite has hosted “stuff the bus” days outside of their store; Planet Networks, a local internet provider, has donated warehouse space for their supplies and bag fulfillment; several girl scout and boy scout troops, “transition” students and young adults from special needs programs volunteer hours weekly in order to make bags for that week’s delivery.

The Costello family is a force for good, spreading a message that each of us has the power to do something to help fight food insecurity. Leading by example, they inspire the community (young and old), demonstrate sustained commitment to a cause, and live the adage “it takes a village.” They truly represent the change we need in this world!