Page 16 - The Voice_Fall 2017

Blessings in a
Backpack

Blessings in a Backpack led by Lady Mavis Merriitt is a worthy initiative that request each Area is to donate backpacks and/
or drawstring bags filled with specified food to a school, homeless shelter, or other entity where services are provided for
children in city of area conference to support the Blessings in a Backpack Program or other similar program. Blessings in a
Backpack is a non-profit organization that feeds school children in the United States who currently are fed during the week
on the federally funded Free and Reduced Meal Program and are at risk of going hungry on the weekends. Items for the
backpacks are: mac & cheese, ramen noodles, soup, raisins, apple sauce, granola bars, etc.

Chapters are asked to bring backpacks or draw-string bags to your Area Conference for presentation to the entity chosen by
the Area.

The Results: Nourished Kids Ready to Learn

Students who participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program show marked improvement in school attendance, test
scores, behavior, and health. Food is an essential building block, and in this case truly is a blessing, especially to a hungry
child! Visit the Get Involved section of www.blessingsinabackpack.org to find out the various ways in which you can help
Blessings in a Backpack feed more children.

Syn=Lod 2017 Blessings in a Backpack took this this great initiative to another level. With donations from across the
country chapters donated $16,000.00 to purchase food to go in the Backpacks. During Syn-Lod the Teens packed
approximately 1,000 Backpacks to be given to six organizations in the St. Louis are to include: Kingdom House, Crisis
Nursery, Community Women Against Hardship, Lessie Bates-Davis Mary Brown Center, New Bethel Baptist Church and
Salvation Army.
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