National Impact
Did you know that 9 MILLION CHILDREN* are experiencing food insecurity? That’s one in eight American children who may be struggling with access to food.
The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs. We want to make sure they’re getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too.
Blessings in a Backpack is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. During the 2022–2023 school year, we distributed more than 3.3 million bags of ready-to-eat food to children at 1,270 schools in 46 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Since 2009, Blessings in a Backpack has provided 30 million hunger-free weekends for more than 1 million children nationwide.
*USDA
On average, $175* will feed one child on the weekends for one 38-week school year through the Blessings in a Backpack program—in Chicago, the cost is $160. The results: nourished kids ready to learn. Food is an essential building block, and in this case, it is truly a blessing, especially to a hungry child!
What does it mean to be food-insecure?
Childhood Hunger in the United States
- Three out of four teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry.+
- Three prevalent consequences of hunger in schools: inability to concentrate, poor academic performance, and headaches, and stomach aches.+
- Nearly half (44%) of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) are kids.**
**Center on Budget and Policy Priorities