ABOUT US
The Need For Blessings
When school dismisses on Friday, 11,000 CHILDREN IN FT. WAYNE, IN will leave their classroom, uncertain whether they will have enough food to eat that weekend.
70% OF ELEMENTARY CHILDREN IN FT. WAYNE face food insecurity.
During the school week, most of these children depend on their school's meal program, and that food is sometimes all they have for the day. When the school closes its doors on Friday afternoon, many of these children go home to empty cupboards and hunger for 65 HOURS until they return to school on Monday.
For a developing child, consistent nutrition is critical to leading a full, healthy life and succeeding at school.
The Devastating Effects of Hunger
-Mothers with school-aged children who face severe hunger are 56.2% more likely to have PTSD and 53.1% more likely to have severe depression. *
-Hunger can cause children to be cranky, hyperactive, and aggressive. These behavioral issues can distract kids from their school work, leading to developmental delays and learning disabilities. Fifty percent of children facing hunger will need to repeat a grade.**
-According to the USDA, there is a strong connection between hunger and chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
*Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
**Source: Feeding America Org
Food insecurity impacts children's health, social development, cognitive growth and general well-being.
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.
Each Friday of the school year, our schools will hand out over 2,400 bags of food to children who face hunger that weekend.
This school year, over 80,000 "blessings bags" will help fill the tummies of children who would have otherwise gone without.
The Results of Blessings in Schools
Student survey results show that children fed by Blessings in a Backpack experience the following positive results:
78% FEEL CARED FOR BY THEIR COMMUNITY
71% FEEL THEY ARE HELPING THEIR FAMILY
60% HAVE FEWER BEHAVIORAL ISSUES
59% FIND IT IS EASIER TO LEARN AT SCHOOL
