The Blessings in a Backpack program in Culver, Indiana, is a 501c3 organization which provides food on the weekends for children in the Culver Community School Corporation who might otherwise go hungry. "Blessings in a Backpack" is a national program with a goal to feed hungry children on the weekends when they are not in school. Culver is just beginning the program. It costs $80 per child, which covers all weekends during the traditional 38 week school year. All money donated stays in Culver, for Culver Elementary students’ benefit. There is no admin “fee” and $80, used exclusively for food, is used for Culver Community Elementary students. We hope you consider supporting the Culver Blessings program. Here are three ways you can help.
• Donate on line: got to blessingsinabackpack.org/donate and designate Culver IN elementary in the comments section of the online donations.
• Mail a check: send it directly to the national headquarters (Blessings in a Backpack Lock Box, PO Box 950291, Louisville KY 40295 and please make your check payable to Blessings in a Backpack, and write Culver Elementary School in the memo line. Cash works too.
• Donate food: we are always looking for donations of healthy foods - see suggested items below and deliver items to Dianne Johnson, contact info below.
• Help us pack the bags: we pack bags about every 2 weeks. We have no set schedule at this time so if you are interested in helping, let Dianne know. We welcome groups/sports teams, etc. Your donation is 100% tax deductible, and you will receive a donation receipt directly from Blessings in a Backpack. Food Donations: We welcome food donations as that helps us provide healthier and higher quality items each week. We strive to make the bags healthy and nutritious – while still being appropriate for elementary school children. Here are samples of items we welcome. We need at least 60 of the same items, since that is how many bags go home each week:
• Fruit cups: usually come in packs of 4 so we would need 15 packs; please make sure they are packed in either lite syrup or natural juice
• Packages of oatmeal: usually come in boxes with 8-10 each so we would need 6-8 boxes (kids seem to like the maple brown sugar variety the best)
• Lowfat (1%) or non fat white milk: the milk that comes in boxes and is shelf stable (no refrigeration required)
• Soups: cans – usually 15 ounces – that just need to be mixed with water. Strive for varieties that have less than 480 milligrams of sodium
• Raisin boxes
• Please do not donate Ramen noodles (they are cheap, but very poor in nutrition), candy, sugary drinks including juice drinks, snack cakes like twinkies, potato chips, or other “junk food.”
If you have questions about food items, feel free to snap a photo of the Nutrition Label and text to Tracy Fox at 301-922-3570 or email Tracy (info below). Thank you for helping us provide healthy foods to kids in need, one child at a time! Please, contact us with questions. Dianne Johnson
[email protected]
306 N Ohio St, Culver IN 46511
Cell: 812-699-1099 Tracy Fox, nutrition consultant
[email protected]
cell: 301-922-3570
Stephanie Hall
[email protected]
Cell: 574-952-5816
