PRESS
Feb 3, 2025
Sparta School Students in Need Now Have Access to Weekend Bag Program
Stuff the Van 'Competition' Coming Up
“Because of an increasing need for students, all five Sparta schools have joined the Weekend Bag program. This year, students in need at Alpine Elementary School, Mohawk Avenue School, Helen Morgan School, Sparta Middle School and Sparta High School will have the opportunity to bring home food and hygiene items.
Lafayette Township School and Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School also joined the program this year.
The Weekend Bag program will be holding a Stuff the Van “friendly competition between Weis Markets in Franklin and Newton.” Weekend Bag Program Team members will be at each location to receive donations and to see which location collects the most items and stuffs the van first; a friendly competition that benefits so many children.“
Nov 6, 2024
The Weekend Bag Program, Inc. Was Presented with The 2024 Don Meng Volunteer Award for our continued time and dedication within the Greater Newton Area. Thank you to the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce!
Aug 6, 2024
“Commissioner Earl Schick read a proclamation praising Isobel, Olivia and Magdalen Costello for their work with the Weekend Bag Program.
The nonprofit organization provides food and hygiene items to more than 200 students at 21 schools each week during the school year. It has provided a total of more than 160,000 food items and more than 38,000 bags.“
Mar 2, 2024
The DAR Chinkchewunska Chapter presented The Weekend Bag Program Inc. with the Community Service Award.
“The Weekend Bag Program is an initiative created and ran by Isobel and her two sisters, Olivia, and Magdalen. In 2016 when Isobel was a freshman in high school, she noticed a trend in conversations with peers during the school day…”
Jun 9, 2022
Six years in, Weekend Bag Program provides nearly 100,000 meals to local students in need
“Back in 2016, just a couple of weeks into her freshman year, Newton High School’s Isobel Costello noticed a trend in conversation among her peers: there were multiple students going home every weekend with little to no food or hygiene products. Motivated to help others, she created The Weekend Bag Program, working with Sussex County schools to provide weekend meals and hygiene products to children in need…“
Dec 7, 2020
Sussex County teen's 'Weekend Bag Project' expands, helps more students in need
“What began five years ago as a Green Township student's outreach to her peers who were going home hungry each weekend is now reaching across Sussex County to Montague, a community with one of the county's highest poverty rates.
‘Coming to Newton High School as a freshman, a topic that came up a lot among my peers and other people I was talking to was how they were going home with barely any food or hygiene products that were a necessity," said Isobel Costello, now 18…’”
Aug 5, 2020
Isobel did an interview with Steve Andrews, daytime host for radio station 102.3 WSUS, spreading awareness about the program and how people can help.
Isobel speaking with Borasio, host of radio station 103.7 WNNJ, spreading awareness about the program and how people can help.
