For millions of kids across America, when school is out, meals disappear. Summer break can bring uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.

This July 4, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors program, including your local Jewel-Osco, is launching Nourish the American Dream, a bold, nationwide, multi-year movement to help end childhood hunger once and for all.

The Chicago Chapter of Blessings in a Backpack is joining the campaign with other organizations across the country to nourish every child’s potential. From July 1- 7, every dollar we raise to feed kids in Chicagoland will be matched, dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, by Albertson’s as part of the collective $5 million goal to help more children access the food they need to grow and thrive.

The Chicago Chapter of Blessings works to prevent childhood hunger on the weekends across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. Nearly 600,000 kids living in Chicagoland are food insecure. The kids who receive subsidized meals during the week may be without affordable, healthy food on Saturday and Sunday. We close this gap by providing nutritionally balanced foods, sent home in kids’ backpacks every Friday. As a result, these kids have fewer health problems, longer attention spans, and perform better in school.

During the 2025/2026 school year, the Chicago Chapter has provided more than 6,400 school-aged children with hunger-free weekends. We currently have 2,000 volunteers that serve 96 program locations, providing 220,000 hunger-free weekends.

Our nation was founded on a shared vision that brought people together and led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Nearly 250 years later, it’s time to rally the nation around another declaration: to nourish every child’s potential. The American Dream starts with a full plate, and funding a full plate starts with you!

Make a donation today to help us reach our $25,000 matching goal and Nourish the American Dream.