Local Bank Helps Blessings in a Backpack

Washington Savings Bank recently volunteered their time to help pack bags for Blessings in a Backpack of Effingham. They packed a total of 806 bags, which will feed 403 kids for two weeks.

Blessings in a Backpack provides students who are on the Federal Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program food to take home on the weekends during the school year. 69% of children in the U.S. are on the free and reduced meal program. Food included in the backpacks is easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly and ready-to-eat, like oatmeal, granola bars, macaroni and cheese and applesauce.

$80 - $100 feeds one child every weekend for the full 38-week school year. 100% of money raised locally is used to feed the child in that community. Research shows students who participate in Blessings in a Backpack show improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior and health.

Washington Savings Bank President David Doedtman said, “Blessings in a Backpack is a wonderful program that benefits so many families in our community. We’ve helped with packing nights the last few years and each time is a great reminder of how much this organization does for hundreds of students in our area. Every donation matters, which is why we agreed to donate $1 for every bag we packed that evening. The total ended up being $806, which will feed roughly 8-10 students for the whole school year.”

If you would like to make a donation to Blessings in a Backpack visit EffinghamBackpack.org to find out how.