ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. — In a significant expansion aimed at combating food insecurity among local youth, Blessings in a Backpack and the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) will more than double the number of food packages distributed to children in the region this summer.

The initiative, now entering its second year, is designed to provide weekend meals to children aged 0–18 during the summer break — a period when many students lose access to free or reduced-price meals available during the school year.

This summer, the program aims to feed more than 11,000 children, up from 5,400 served last year, according to Jama Ross, Executive Director of Blessings in a Backpack in Fort Wayne.

“Kids 0–18 will be able to come into one of those library locations and get a bag of food to supplement them for the weekend,” Ross said. “Last year we did 5,400 kids, and this year we’re looking at about 11,000.”

A Growing Response to Hunger

The expansion comes amid rising levels of food insecurity in Allen County. According to the St. Joe Community Health Foundation, 14% of residents in the county are food insecure — including over 18,000 children.

The program distributes shelf-stable food bags, each designed to provide sufficient nourishment to a child over the course of a weekend. In 2024, the program gave away 4,400 bags at library branches across the county. The surge in demand — and the proactive planning by the organizations — is expected to bring that number closer to 10,000 to 12,000 bags this summer.

Where and How It Works

The summer food distribution will be available at select ACPL locations, with no ID, proof of income, or residency required. Any child under the age of 18 can walk into a participating library branch and pick up a bag of food, no questions asked.

This model allows families to access food discreetly and conveniently, especially in neighborhoods where transportation or stigma may be barriers to more traditional food bank services.

Program Highlights:

• Partnership: Blessings in a Backpack + Allen County Public Library

• Launch Year: 2024

• 2024 Reach: 5,400 children, 4,400 food bags

• 2025 Target: 11,000 children

• Location: Multiple ACPL branches

• Eligibility: All children aged 0–18

• Contents: Shelf-stable, nutritious meals for weekend use

Addressing a Critical Summer Gap

School holidays often result in a sharp uptick in child hunger as students lose access to school-provided meals. In Allen County, this gap is especially stark during the summer months, when alternative food programs are limited in number and scope.

The expanded Blessings-ACPL program aims to close that gap — not just by feeding more children, but by placing food distribution sites in safe, trusted, and accessible community hubs: libraries.

“We are incredibly grateful to continue this partnership and increase our impact this summer,” Ross added.

Broader Implications

The program highlights the growing role public libraries play as social safety net providers, offering not only educational resources, but food, housing referrals, and basic services. It also underscores the importance of private-public partnerships in responding to unmet needs that governmental programs may not reach.

Blessings in a Backpack, a national organization with local chapters, has continued to scale operations in Indiana, where food insecurity rates among children remain persistently high compared to the national average.

For many families struggling with inflation, housing costs, and stagnant wages, even a few bags of weekend food can mean the difference between hunger and health.