Overnight on Tuesday, someone broke in and stole bags full of groceries meant for students, along with cash out of the donation box.

GRESHAM, Ore. — A Gresham nonprofit is struggling after thieves took off with food that was supposed to feed kids in need. Operation Backpack helps make sure students in the Gresham-Barlow School District do not go hungry. Now, the meals for the weekend are gone and the organization’s founder is just heartbroken.

“I tried really hard not to get emotional, sorry,” explained Operation Backpack Founder Angela Powell.

It is hard for Powell not to get emotional because of what is at stake.

“I was the lucky kid, I had everything I needed and then some,” Powell said. “I had stuff I didn't even deserve.”

Powell knows how lucky she was because of what she sees every day as a bus driver.

“I hear kids talk about, oh, I look forward to going back to school because I get to have a warm breakfast, or hey, that hot dog roll is going to be the highlight of my day,” Powell said.

That is exactly why Powell started Operation Backpack two years ago. Every week, Powell and volunteers pack bags of food for students to take home on Fridays. The 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags full of food and snacks may be the only meals some kids get on Saturday and Sunday.

“I’m thinking, grandma doesn't cook casserole for you or mom doesn't make you a PB&J?” Powell asked. “And then I realized, sometimes they can't. Sometimes they work, sometimes parents are struggling, sometimes guardians are struggling to provide those simple things I take for granted every day.”

Overnight on Tuesday, someone broke in and stole bags full of groceries meant for students, along with cash out of the donation box.

“It just hurts, it hurts in a different way,” Powell said. “I sat there yesterday and cried about it all day.”

As police investigate, Powell is already working hard to make sure no kid has to worry where their next meal is coming from.

“There's been times where I've struggled to get the food and things I need for this program, but we've never gone without, and I certainly don't think we're going to go without now,” Powell said. “I'm going to keep going.”

The ironic part, Powell would have helped the person who stole the food. Operation Backpack is always in need of donations, especially food that is easy for kids to make, like Mac and Cheese or granola bars. The organization is also need of diapers, baby formula and hygiene products. It also gives those items to families.