At Sonny’s, we know the consequences of food insecurity are significant and we are passionate about putting a stop to it. We are always looking for new ways to join the fight against hunger. When our very own Chief Kindness Officer, Kennon Adkinson, introduced us to Blessings in a Backpack, we knew we wanted to join forces to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit organization.
Blessings in a Backpack is a nonprofit organization with over 1,100 volunteer-driven programs across the United States. They got their start in 2008, when the Founder, Missy Hammerstrom, realized how often children do not get a meal outside of school. She immediately aspired to help and began buying backpacks and food for students. She teamed up with a Louisville philanthropist to start the first Blessings in a Backpack program at Roosevelt Perry Elementary School, a program that is still in existence today.
Its mission is to mobilize communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs, but they want to make sure they’re getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too.
To help us make a difference in a child’s life you can:
Add a $1.00 Donation to your Online Order from Sonny’s
According to a national evaluation project led by Blessings in a Backpack in partnership with Quaker Oats and Ipsos, in addition to no longer feeling weekend hunger pangs, their impact has been seen across the nation. Children fed by Blessings in a Backpack have experienced:
- 60% of kids have fewer behavioral issues
- 78% of kids feel cared for by their community
- 71% of kids feel that Blessings in a Backpack is helping their family
- 78% of children report that their school attendance is better
- 71% find it is easier to learn at school
There are so many ways this incredible organization is working to put a stop to child hunger, and we are thrilled to stand by their side and help in any way we can.
