Monthly Newsletter | December 2020 |
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Your Impact:
Meet Miranda, a first-grader who is happy, healthy, and thriving, despite all the uncertainties in our world right now, and she loves being a Blessings in a Backpack recipient! Our program means so much that she burst into tears at the beginning of the school year when Blessings food was being distributed, and she didn't get a bag. The school quickly acted and realized their mistake! Miranda took home a bag of food that day, and has every Friday since.
We know 2020 has been a difficult year, and many things seem unknown right now, but a child shouldn't have to worry about whether they will eat. Who will feed the kids this weekend? Why not you?
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Warrior for Kids:
Congratulations to Doris Heran Taylor, the nutrition services manager at Engelhard Elementary School! On Giving Tuesday we randomly selected Doris as the winning #WarriorforKids on Instagram Live. She received a $1,000 Amazon gift card, made possible by the Spartan Kids Foundation. Helen Hall will receive a Vera Bradley prize package for nominating Doris.
Helen shared, "Doris is the energizer bunny in human form. She never misses a day of work and is a strong team leader and a team player… the glass is always 'half-full' in her world, which drives her positive attitude. Doris has not let the pandemic stop her for one second to feed the children who depend on nutritious meals from her kitchen. Doris knows the students and families who come see her and always has a warm smile."
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to meet the Warriors spreading kindness by helping others during the pandemic.
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Gift Ideas that Give Back to Blessings:
Fill the bottom of the tree and your heart at the same time! These great gifts will help feed kids on the weekends. (Clockwise)
Available in kid and adult sizes
(Winner of our nationwide t-shirt design contest!)
Starry Strawberries and Daisy Days designs available!
Shop hats, leggings, hoodies, t-shirts, and more!
by Monica Rich Kosann and Jamie Beck
Double-layered premium face masks with adjustable ear straps for kids and adults.
Available in a shiny gold finish.
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Year in Review:
With unexpected school closures, a growing pandemic, and childhood hunger numbers on the rise, Blessings in a Backpack, like the rest of the country, was forced to reevaluate the way we operated this year. Because of so many amazing volunteers, partners, and supporters, we continued to provide food for children in need.
Through the darkness and uncertainty that was (is) the COVID-19 public health emergency, everyday heroes continue to step up for children all across the country. The extraordinary number of children with access to food on the weekends would not be possible without our dedicated team of heroes. Thank you for being a hero for more than 88,000 food-insecure children across the country.
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Year End Giving:
This year, everyone can deduct $300 from their taxes whether or not they itemize their deductions. Please note that for your donation to apply to your 2020 taxes, online gifts must be made by 11: 59 p.m. ET. on Dec. 31, 2020. M ailed donations must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2020.
*This includes gifts of stock. If you have questions about giving stock before year-end, please email Pam.
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Blessings in a Backpack Names New Chief Executive Officer
The Blessings in a Backpack National Board of Directors has announced that CEO Brooke Wiseman will retire from the organization and Erin Kerr, current Chief Development Officer, will be appointed as the organization's CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
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Giving Tuesday: We did it! THANK YOU.
Because you became a Warrior for Kids this year, we crossed the finished line together in a valiant fashion-surpassing our Giving Tuesday goal of $100,000, raising more than $184,000 to feed kids who might otherwise go hungry.
Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
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22,000 Hunger-Free Weekends Made Possible by IICF
This year, our partner Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) donated over $112,800 to help Blessings feed kids, providing more than 22,000 bags of food to children across 32 Blessings in a Backpack programs in Illinois and Ohio.
Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
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Delta Pilots Charitable Fund Feeds Kids on the Weekends
As childhood hunger numbers soar to new heights, the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund gave a generous gift of $100,000 to provide 25,000 bags of healthy, satisfying food for kids who might otherwise go hungry.
Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
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Louisville Woman Honored as a 'Warrior for Kids'
"Until you talk to a kid who has been hungry, once you hear it, it permeates your heart and stays with you forever," said Regina Jackson-Willis, the family resource coordinator at Engelhard Elementary School and a 'Warrior for Kids.'
Read more
www.wlky.com
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Staff at Poynette Schools Receive Cookies of Appreciation
To show appreciation for the extra steps taken by the staff at the Poynette schools, the Poynette Blessings in a Backpack Program partnered with Chris & Lori’s Bakehouse in Poynette, to provide a small treat to school staff.
Read more
www.hngnews.com
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Reflects giving from July 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2020: |
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$25,000 to $49,999
The Albertsons Companies Foundation
Allied Products Corporation
Ausherman Family Foundation, Inc.
Bobby Nichols Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation
Brown and Caldwell
The Community Foundation of Frederick County
Community Foundation of Greater Rochester
Farmers Insurance
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation
Molex, LLC
PGA TOUR Volunteer Appreciation Program sponsored by Myrbetriq
Related Affordable Foundation
United Way Of Northeast Florida
Vera Bradley
$15,000 to $24,999
The Amit J & Vicky L Patel Foundation
BKD Foundation
Clark Family Foundation, Inc.
CME Group
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The City of Frederick
General Motors Foundation
Gresham Grocery Outlet
Latin Women's Initiative
Melitta S. and Joan M. Pick Charitable Trust
PGA TOUR, Inc.
St John's Grocery Outlet
Walmart Foundation
William H. Donner Foundation, Inc.
$10,000 to $14,999
Anonymous
Arby's Foundation
Blessings in a Backpack Fort Wayne
Cahill Homes
Covenant United Methodist Church
Craig and Mary Schiefelbein Foundation
James Gorman
The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation, Inc.
Monsanto (Bayer) Fund
Name Bubbles
Steven Pack
Percent Pledge
Rodar LLC
Texas Capital Bank
UPS-Jacksonville Employees
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