Community Corner
30 Days of Giving, Day 15: Blessings in a Backpack
Bless area children with food for the weekend by donating to this nonprofit.
This is part of a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back this holiday season. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there truly is need all year long.
Donate money, fill a backpack
Throughout the year, Blessings in a Backpack works to fill the needs of local children whose families have trouble feeding them over the weekend. These children also qualify for government-subsided reduced fee or free hot lunches during the school week.
Blessings in a Backpack collects money and accepts items, such as cereals and other non-perishable items, from area business and residents, many of whom are encouraged to head up their own food drive. Then, every weekend kids in need are sent home with the backpacks full of goodies. Over the holidays, Blessings in a Backpack will still be packing food to cover weekend meal plans.
Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“It’s actually easier for us to have monetary donations because that way we can buy everything and ensure every single backpack is filled,” Cheryl Whitton, chairperson of the Blessings in a Backpack Michigan Advisory Board, said. “All of the money raised goes to support the program and it stays in local communities.”
Whitton noted that donors can designate which program they would like their money to go towards. She also said that $100 can pay for a child to receive a backpack for an entire school year.
Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In addition to donations, Whitton said Blessings in a Backpack is always looking for people to assist with packing. Each school branch of the organization packs at a different location, the majority of them on Wednesday or Thursday.
For more information on how to donate, visit Blessings in a Backpack’s website at www.blessingsinabackpackmi.org or call Whitton at 248-528-1060. She is also the person to contact for volunteer inquiries.
Local schools participating in the program include:
Do you have an idea for the 30 Days of Giving? Send your idea to Editor Terry Parris at Terry.Parris@Patch.com.
