Spartan Kids Foundation to Match Blessings in a Backpack Donations During Week of Giving
In recognition of World Hunger Day, Blessings in a Backpack, one of the nation's largest providers of donated food for kids, is launching a five-day donation campaign to support its nationwide program locations that have felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning May 24 and extending through World Hunger Day on May 28, the national nonprofit aims to raise $40,000 to help its 1,092 programs continue to feed hungry children nationwide.
As part of an ongoing partnership, the Spartan Kids Foundation, Spartan's official not-for-profit arm, will match donations up to $20,000 during this week of giving.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more children than ever before are in need of help,” Erin Kerr, CEO of Blessings in a Backpack, said. “From an increase in unemployment rates across the country to many children still attending virtual school and not receiving the school meals that they rely on, we have seen an increase in the number of hungry kids in need. At Blessings in a Backpack, we’re proud to support The Hunger Project’s World Hunger Day and partner with the Spartan Kids Foundation to continue to feed 88,900 kids across the country. With these funds, we hope to feed more children in the U.S. this summer, ensuring they get the food they need while school isn’t in session.”
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“We urge everyone to give generously on World Hunger Day to help feed the kids, but also want to add that since kids need to eat every day, giving should not be seen as a one-off but as a continuing program to support the great number of food insecure kids and families,” Alfred Schreiber, Co-founder and Co-director of the Spartan Kids Foundation, said.
Recognizing 10 Years of Giving
After a difficult year for nonprofits, Blessings in a Backpack is calling on people to help take action against childhood hunger. To recognize the 10th anniversary of The Hunger Project’s World Hunger Day, the national nonprofit is asking its supporters to help give back to their programs that have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The week-long donation campaign will go toward supporting Blessings in a Backpack’s 1,092 program locations across 46 states and Washington, D.C. from June until September.
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More than 820 million people in the world are suffering from food insecurity, according to The Hunger Project. As closures caused by COVID-19 led to a rise in unemployment and poverty, a report from Feeding America projected that 18 million children would experience food insecurity this year. That’s one in four American children who may be struggling with access to food.
Seeking the Sustainable Solutions
In an effort to limit these staggering figures, The Hunger Project celebrates sustainable solutions for hunger and poverty. Blessings in a Backpack is doing their part each week to put an end to childhood hunger by feeding elementary school students across the United States that might otherwise go hungry.
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Beginning with an email outreach to Blessings in a Backpack’s subscribers, the nonprofit’s campaign will also include social media posts on the national nonprofit’s social media channels to encourage followers to donate. The total amount of funds raised will be announced on Blessings in a Backpack’s Facebook page on May 28 during World Hunger Day.