The Need for Blessings
For a developing child, consistent nutrition is critical to leading a full, healthy life and succeeding at school.
Food insecurity impacts children's health, social development, cognitive growth and general well-being.
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
The Results of Blessings in Schools
Blessings in a Backpack has partnered with Quaker Oats and Ipsos+, a leading global market research company, on a national evaluation project that measures program impact on a deeper level than bags and pounds of food distributed. This project involved various Blessings’ stakeholders, such as children and teachers, in the evaluation process. Surveys found that, in addition to no longer feeling weekend hunger pangs, children fed by Blessings experience the following impact on their lives:
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78% feel cared for by their community
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71% feel they are helping their family
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70% say their attendance at school is better
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69% say it is easier to learn
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67% say their family is happier
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60% have fewer behavioral issues at school