Royal Oak Students to Benefit from Blessings in a Backpack

“Because hunger... doesn’t take a break on the weekends."

That’s the motto of Blessings in a Backpack, a national nonprofit that is coming to Royal Oak, providing qualified students with food to fuel them through the weekends.

The nonprofit's mission is to feed the future of America. The organization aims to help fill the nutritional needs of children while raising awareness of child hunger within our communities.

According to statistics released by the Blessings in a Backpack organization, one out of every six children in the U.S. (12.4 million) is at risk of hunger.

A group of Royal Oak teachers and administrators sought to bring Blessings in a Backpack to Royal Oak, where more than 1,400 of the school district's 5,300 students qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Those same students would be eligible to receive the backpacks each Friday filled with nonperishable meals, purchased at a local grocery store. 

“I approached my former principal with the idea of starting Blessings in a Backpack in Royal Oak after I and several other teachers noticed that, for many of our students, their free lunch is the largest meal they have in a day,” said Kathryn Buller, a second-grade teacher at . "Across Michigan, families have been affected by the economy, and Royal Oak families are no exception."

Blessings in a Backpack currently operates in three other school districts in Oakland County. Rochester's Avondale School District, Clawson School District and Rochester Community Schools all have programs.

The North Woodward Community Foundation (NWCF) will manage the Royal Oak program. The initial fundraising goal is $70,000-$80,000. Once the goal has been met, the interest from this endowment will keep the program going each year.

Royal Oak residents may soon see Blessings in a Backpack kicking into fundraising action at local events. The community foundation’s 10th Annual "Summer Nights: Cruising the Night Away" on Aug. 19 supports several Blessings in a Backpack organizations, including Royal Oak’s program.

Buller says the group also hopes to participate in the Arts, Beats and Eats festival over the Labor Day weekend, as well as in additional events throughout the school year.

Community members and local businesses wishing to sponsor the program may make donations through the NWCF by check, or online, in the name of “Blessings in a Backpack Royal Oak.” Donations are tax deductible. A donation to the endowment fund is eligible for a Michigan Tax Credit.

“A donation of just $100 will provide a backpack and food for one child for an entire school year,” said Buller. “Research shows that when children are well-fed their attendance improves, test scores increase and behavioral issues are reduced.”

After the endowment goal is reached, Blessings in a Backpacks will be seeking volunteers for help in the filling and distribution of backpacks.

To find out more information about the Royal Oak Blessings in a Backpack or how to donate, call Kathryn Buller at 248-882-8205 or visit the organization’s website.