FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit dedicated to combating childhood hunger, has announced its latest campaign aimed at expanding its weekend feeding program to an eighth school.

Meijer Kickstarts the Effort

The campaign received a boost from Meijer, which contributed $5,000 to the effort. This donation is the first step toward bringing the program to Bloomingdale Elementary School.

The initiative seeks to provide weekend meals to children who might otherwise go without food between Friday and Monday. The organization’s mission is to ensure that every student has access to nutritious food over the weekends during the 2025 school year.

A Growing Need

Currently, Blessings in a Backpack serves about 3,000 children in the Fort Wayne community each weekend. The new campaign would allow the organization to reach an additional 350 students at Bloomingdale Elementary.

“At this, the most abundant time in the most abundant nation in the world, we believe that giving children the basic human dignity of food should be one of the community’s top priorities,” said Executive Director Jama Ross.

Campaign Goals

The total fundraising goal for the expansion is $41,895. The funds will go toward providing bags filled with nutritious food for the children of Bloomingdale Elementary throughout the school year.

Why It Matters

Childhood hunger remains a pressing issue across the United States. For many students, school meals are their primary source of nutrition. Without support during weekends, these children face the prospect of hunger at home.

This program addresses that gap, ensuring that children can return to school on Monday ready to learn.