Mayors and government officials across the U.S. filled backpacks with food for students in their communities as a part of the fifth annual “Blessings in a Backpack Day.” More than 75 city leaders joined forces with local Blessings in a Backpack volunteers to raise awareness about childhood hunger and provide hunger-free weekends for the children who need it most.
More than 100 cities have participated in “Blessings in a Backpack Day” in partnership with Blessings in a Backpack — a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. After recognizing the day in 2014, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Green Bay Mayor James Schmitt sponsored and passed a permanent resolution at the 2015 annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, declaring the third Thursday of September the annual celebration of “Blessings in a Backpack Day.”
Blessings in a Backpack is an important resource for children who may not receive nutritious meals [at home] during the weekend,” said Mayor Schmitt. “Children who are well-fed thrive in school and their communities.”
“Blessings in a Backpack looked at the problem [of childhood hunger] and said, ‘What are we going to do about it?’ They’re helping our kids one meal at a time,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We call ourselves the richest country in the world, but as long as we have a kid that is going home hungry, then we are not a wealthy country.”
The National School Lunch Program provides free or reduced lunch for 22 million children at school during the week. That program serves as a vital source of food Monday through Friday, but many students return to school on Monday hungry because they do not have access to enough food over the weekend. This is where Blessings in a Backpack steps in.
This school year, Blessings in a Backpack will provide three million hunger-free weekends for more than 87,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia. “Blessings in a Backpack Day” is an annual opportunity for volunteers to work with local elected officials to highlight the hunger issues in their communities.
“No child should have to worry about when or where their next meal will come from. Our programs help fill an important gap for kids across the country and I hope that, inspired by today’s events, even more will lend a hand,” said Blessings in a Backpack CEO Brooke Wiseman. “Year after year, I’m encouraged by the dedicated community leaders and volunteers in cities across the country who step up to make a difference in the lives of children in their community.”
On Friday, 55 mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Fall Leadership Meeting in Columbia, S.C., filled bags full of food in support of “Blessings in a Backpack Day.”
Learn more information about Blessings in a Backpack.