Falcon Packs, through the Lower Dauphin School District, was originally started  in the middle of the 2017-2018 school year when a senior student at the High School saw a need for extra food to be sent home with many of the students at both the high school and middle school. Power Packs existed at the elementary level at that time and was later absorbed by the Falcon Packs program in 2018-2019. This program sent home packs of 6-10 items each week during the school year to approximately 110 students across the district. Cocoa Packs was originally started as a program operating within the Derry Township School District formed to ensure that all children in DTSD had access to food outside of school. As the program expanded, they continued their efforts to help the surrounding areas by providing food packs in addition to many other services such as a clothing closet. 

Cocoa Packs and Falcon Packs are excited to announce they will now be merging their efforts to provide extra food to students in need. Lower Dauphin students and their families have the opportunity to enroll in Cocoa Packs if they find themselves in need of extra food. To enroll in Cocoa Packs, families will need to contact their school office to inquire further about the enrollment process.. Upon enrollment and acceptance to the program, families will receive food packs for each of their children enrolled at Lower Dauphin. Cocoa Packs offers a pick-up option in which families will be provided a variety of fresh food items donated from across our community and neighboring communities. There will also be the option to have food packs sent home with students, but these food packs will only include non-perishable items (and will be a substitute to the pick-up option, not in addition to it).  

For families who were previously enrolled in Falcon Packs, a flier was sent home at the end of the 2023-2024 school year with instructions for the Cocoa Packs enrollment process. If you are already enrolled in Cocoa Packs, there are no additional steps needed and you will continue to receive your Cocoa Packs as normal. If you missed this enrollment time period or are new to the school district and feel your family could benefit from enrolling in Cocoa Packs, please contact your school office. Please note there is not a separate enrollment into Falcon Packs this year.