Posted by Mike Bakos

BLESSINGS IN BACKPACKS

The Akron-Newstead Rotary Club and Akron Central Schools are teaming-up to fight childhood hunger by bringing the Blessings in a Backpack program to Akron Elementary School this September. Blessings in a Backpack (BIB) is a 501(c)3 organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.
 
"The numbers are staggering", says Akron-Newstead Rotary Club President John Gehl. "According to BIB, more than 16-million children in this country live in households that struggle with food insecurity and it only costs $100 to purchase food to feed one child on the weekends for an entire 38-week school year."
Recognizing a need for such a program in their school district, the club began researching backpack programs and found BIB as a potential partner. They then approached the school who welcomed the concept with open arms. The Rotary club and Akron Central Schools have had a long partnership working to reduce childhood hunger in the District starting many years ago as the Rotary club funded the purchase of equipment that allowed the elementary school to start their breakfast program. When the club discovered the BIB program, both groups embraced and supported the concept immediately. "Children's health is one of the focus areas of Rotary", said Paul Muck, Akron-Newstead Rotary Club Project Liaison.  "There is no reason that any child should go hungry in our community and our Rotary club is proud to support this program." 
 
Blessings in a Backpack is a hybrid of private sector funding and public partnerships carried out in elementary schools. The organization does not receive federal or local tax dollars and all donations are tax-deductible.  Initial funding for the Akron program will come from Akron-Newstead Rotary's Neediest Family Fund -  funded by the club's annual Christmas Holiday Auction. "We know that the community will help support this effort and as our funding grows we'll be able to feed more children", says Paul Muck.
 
Initial plans are to provide 50 backpacks on a weekly basis and expand the program as need dictates. "Hunger and lack of proper nutrition are factors that can inhibit students from being successful learners in the classroom.  We are committed to working toward eliminating these inhibitors so all of our students can realize their full potential", said Akron Schools Superintendent and fellow Akron Rotarian Kevin Shanley. "We are grateful to the Akron-Newstead Rotary Club for teaming with our District to implement the Blessings in a Backpack program."