As closures caused by COVID-19 lead to a rise in unemployment and poverty, it is projected that 18 MILLION CHILDREN are experiencing food insecurity. That's one in four American children who may be struggling with access to food.
The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs. We want to make sure they're getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too.
To ensure the kids in our community have full bellies over the weekend, Blessings in a Backpack sends them home on Fridays with backpacks full of satisfying and nutritional food. Since 2008, Blessings in a Backpack has provided more than 20 million hunger-free weekends for kids across America. We currently have more than 1,200 active programs in nearly all 50 states.