Posted Friday, September 23, 2022.

Mayor Richard Stricks presents a proclamation to Blessings in a Backpack volunteers Ethan Meyer, Craig Johnson and Sharon Pulver. The group provides weekend meals and snacks for more than 400 local school-age children.

HUNTINGTON – Mayor Richard Strick signed a proclamation Friday afternoon recognizing the important work of Blessings in a Backpack’s Huntington chapter and encouraging residents to rally behind its mission of feeding hungry children.

Blessings in a Backpack is a nationwide not-for-profit organization that mobilizes communities and resources to feed school-aged children on weekends, when they don’t have access to school-provided meals and may otherwise go hungry. There are programs in 46 states and Washington, D.C.

In Huntington, a group of local volunteers coordinate donations to pack and distribute weekend meals and snacks to more than 400 elementary school students. A student’s participation requires a parent or guardian to sign a permission form. Teachers secretly place the food in students’ backpacks when they are at recess or outside of the classroom so that students’ participation remains anonymous.

“The teachers will select those that are most in need to receive a permission slip,” Dana Meyer, a local volunteer, said. “They know the kids best and know their situation.”

Proper nourishment is directly tied to better school attendance, academic performance and overall mental and physical health. But, one in six American children experience food insecurity, according to the Blessings in a Backpack national website. The problem has only been exacerbated by rising food costs and disrupted supply chains.

“Once the pandemic started, you couldn’t order food in bulk,” Craig Johnson, another Blessings in a Backpack volunteer, said. “We’ve been fortunate to get some grants, so we have made do.”

The annual cost to feed a child every weekend of the school year through the Blessings in a Backpack program is about $150. Monetary donations of any amount can be made online at blessingsinabackpack.org or by mailing a check to 1515 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN 46750. “Huntington County, IN schools” must be specified in the online form or in the check’s memo line.

Residents may also donate food items directly to the local chapter or volunteer to help pack meals. A number of local businesses have stepped up to help by organizing food drives among their employees.

The local group says its biggest challenges are food supply and volunteer recruitment. Any individual, group or organization interested in donating or getting involved can contact Blessings in a Backpack’s Huntington chapter at biabhuntingtonco@gmail.com. Questions about food donations can be directed to Craig Johnson at (260) 433-9854. Call Sharon Pulver at (260) 413-6062 regarding monetary donations.