Chicago Chapter
Did you know that nearly 300,000 children in Chicagoland are food insecure? That means one in seven kids relies on school meals during the week but lacks access to affordable, healthy food on weekends. The impact of hunger goes beyond just an empty stomach. It can lead to serious health issues, reduced attention spans, lower IQ levels, and poor academic performance.
This is where Blessings in a Backpack steps in.
Since its launch in 2020, the Chicago Chapter has been dedicated to raising awareness about childhood hunger and improving the lives of local children. By providing food when school meals are unavailable, we ensure that children receive the nutrition they need to thrive.
The Chicago Chapter, launched in 2020, works to raise awareness of childhood hunger and improve the lives of local children who depend on school meals as their primary source of nutrition, by providing food when school meals are not available.
During the 2023/24 school year, we distributed over 179,000 bags of ready-to-eat food to over 6,000 school-aged children at 75 program locations across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
Student survey results show that children who are fed by Blessings in a Backpack in Chicago experience the following positive impacts:
- 84% report less to worry about
- 82% Enjoy their weekends more
- 69% say it is easier to focus on studying
For more information, contact Dan Summins at dans@blessingsinabackpack.org or (312) 823-0406.