As we stay home and try not to panic, I can’t help but think about the children and families who aren’t as fortunate as some of us. Thankfully, measures were taken by the school board to continue to provide meals to those who rely on them during the school week. But who will feed the children on weekends?
Many organizations and even the government are working around the clock to help communities, small businesses and families. As I scrolled through the plethora of news updates and pleas for help on Facebook recently, I saw a charitable organization called Blessings in a Backpack (First Coast Chapter), which feeds over 87,000 children in 1,092 schools across 45 states in U.S. by providing food on the weekend to kids who might otherwise go hungry.
Over the past two years, the First Coast Chapter provided more than 135,900 hunger-free weekends for thousands of elementary students living on the First Coast who are facing food insecurity. The goal for this year is to increase the number of children being fed by 500.
This is just a dent in the fight against childhood hunger. Here are the facts from Feeding America, No Kid Hungry, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
- More than 11 million children in the United States live in food-insecure homes.
- One in seven children does not get the food they need every day.
- Three out of four teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry.
- Three prevalent consequences of hunger in schools: inability to concentrate, poor academic performance, and headaches and stomach aches.
- Nearly half (44%) of those in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) are kids.
There are a few ways you and your family can help. The first item only takes some paper and a few kind words — great for children to do right now while they are home from school.
- Write positive messages on notecards that are placed in each backpack. Phrases like you’re awesome, keep up the good work, stay strong are ones my son thought of on his own. Our goal is to write 100 cards by the end of the week. This costs nothing except paper (and a printer if you have one) to write as many notecards as you desire. Templates and drop-off locations can be found on their Facebook page.
- Make a donation. It costs $120 to feed a child in Northeast Florida on weekends for an entire school year. Donations are tax-deductible.
- Donate stock.
- Get your company involved and ask for a match.
- In lieu of birthday gifts, donate your birthday and ask for donations on your social networks.
- Donate new backpacks or drawstring bags. How many of us have these lying around?
- Email [email protected] for questions or support.
It’s going to be a very challenging and stressful time ahead. We don’t know what’s ahead for our country, our welfare, our wellness, our families. That doesn’t mean we can’t help others and give back to those most in need. There are countless ways to give back right now, without having to leave your home or put your family at risk. Blessings in a Backpack is just one of the many charitable organizations soliciting help right now, and we found it a good fit for our family.
A statement from the organization during this pandemic:
You can help Blessings in a Backpack continue to feed kids on the weekends during this public health emergency. At Blessings program locations across the country, we are striving to get extra bags to kids in case their school closes. For those already closed, we are working to identify a distribution process for that community.
