National Support
Blessings in a Backpack provides students who are on the Federal Free & Reduced Price Meal Program food to take home on the weekends during the school year. 69% of children in the U.S. are on the free and reduced meal program.
Food included in the backpacks is easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly and ready-to-eat, like oatmeal, granola bars, macaroni and cheese and applesauce.
20+ million children in the United States are at risk of hunger. Poor nutrition can result in a weakened immune system, lower IQ, lower academic achievement, attention and behavior issues in the classroom.
Blessings in a Backpack is a 501(C)3 organization currently feeding over 78,000 children in 800 schools in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
$80 - $100 feeds 1 child every weekend for the full 38-week school year. 100% of money raised locally is used to feed the child in that community.
Students who participate in Blessings in a Backpack show improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior and health.
Vision
Every school-aged child in America has the nourishment needed to learn and grow. As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings strives to ensure children don't go hungry on the weekends by empowering individuals and communities to take action.
Mission
Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.
Local Impact
The Blessings in a Backpack program started in Effingham, IL in Fall of 2013, feeding 130 students in 3 schools.
Currently, we are serving 430 students in 8 schools.
In Unit 40, K - 8th grade, more than 50% of students qualify for the program, equating to over 1,000 students.
The cost to feed a single student ranges from $80 - $100 for 38 weeks.
The national Blessings in a Backpack organization raises money separately to fund administrative costs.
100% of the money we raise supports our local efforts.
