A group of Wareham Middle School students are fighting hunger, one backpack at a time.

On Aug. 2, students in the Community, Academic, Recreation and Enrichment (CARE) Summer Program hosted the first “Learn ’n Walk Toward Ending Hunger” walk-a-thon at the Middle School’s track.

On Thursday, the students continued to raise awareness during the CARE Fair, an end of the summer celebration, encouraging people to donate and learn about a problem that faces one in six Americans – a shortage of food.

Wareham Middle School teacher Janice Barton said $300 has been raised so far through the student’s efforts for the “Weekend Backpack Food Program.”

Launched last year by student’s in the school’s Builders Club, the program gives backpacks filled with non-perishable food for students in need to eat on the weekends. That’s when they don’t have access to the school’s free breakfast and lunch program, Barton said. The backpacks are given out anonymously.

With the club’s funds spent from last year, the CARE students, many of who are in the Builders Club, stepped up to raise money for the program before school starts.

Danielle Ansell, a ninth grade student, participated in the Builders Club before graduating middle school. This summer, she volunteered to help at the CARE program and assisted during Thursday’s walk.

She said the group identified three problems facing Wareham when coming up with the project: hunger, homelessness and litter.

After some research, she said the group settled on combating hunger.

“When we learned that one in six people face food insecurity we realized that meant a lot of Wareham students are affected,” she said. “The backpack program is a way for us to the most good and help society.”

To educate walkers, the students made signs with their goals and some food shortage facts that were set up around the track.

While the walk is over, donations can still be made to the “Weekend Food Backpack Program.”

All donations are welcome and may be given at the Office of Beyond School Time, located at Wareham Middle School, 4 Viking Drive, Wareham 02571.