Community Impact

A young boy walking on a path with a red backpack

Blessings in a Backpack

Blessings in a Backpack: Feed the Shores is a program established by the church in the fall of 2018 to provide the basic need of food stability on the weekends to qualifying children in the South Lake School district. Through our involvement with the school we saw a clear need for nutritious meals to be provided for children on the weekend. A backpack is sent home each Friday, with a qualifying student, filled with food. Each backpack contains several pounds of foods such as tuna, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, fruit juices, pastas, oatmeal, fruit bars, and soup. The food is provided at reduced costs through special arrangements with the Meijer grocery chain.


Currently we are sending home 130 backpacks to students each week for the 2021/2022 school year. Therefore we have to raise funds in excess of $14,000 to provide these meals. Children that show up to school healthy and well-nourished learn better. They are more likely to attend school and take advantage of educational opportunities. Undernourished children are at a disadvantage from the moment they walk into school. Poor nutrition increases fatigue, shortens attention span, and decreases work capacity. Food insecure children tend to be absent more often because of illnesses. Blessings in a Backpack addresses the problem of hunger for food insecure school children.


We give all the glory to God for being able to provide this program, and for bringing unity among various local churches, members of the community and local businesses to support and operate the mission that no child should go hungry.

 

How can you help?

  • VOLUNTEER — As we grow our need for volunteers to help pack the backpacks and distribute the food will grow too. Please sign up as a volunteer and we will email you all opportunities. 

  • DONATE — A $110 donation provides food for one child every weekend throughout the school year. You can make a donation by going to http://www.blessingsinabackpackmi.org/feed-the-shores/ and clicking on the Donate now button.  Any size donation would be greatly appreciated.

  • FUNDRAISING EVENTS — take part as a participant, a sponsor, or provide a donation for auction or raffle.

  • ORGANIZE/HOST A FUNDRAISING EVENT and donate the proceeds to our program.

Packing information

Wednesdays, 5:00 pm

St. Lucy Catholic Church
23401 E. Jefferson
St. Clair Shores, MI 48080

Volunteers are needed weekly for a 1 hour commitment to pack the backpacks with other opportunities arising during expansion.