Blessings in a Backpack is partnering with Giant Food and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, to distribute bags of food weekly to 240 children affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Before COVID-19, 11 million children in the USA were facing food-insecurity and relied on the meals received during school. A new study has found that, as a result of COVID-19 closures, 18 MILLION CHILDREN struggle with access to food. That’s ONE in FOUR kids who need help now more than ever.

Blessings in a Backpack’s mission is to provide food on the weekends for children across America who might otherwise go hungry during the school year. However, due to the current conditions in the country, the nonprofit organization is working diligently to extend its programming into the summer.

With a major donation of $100,000 from Giant Food and volunteer support from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Blessings in a Backpack can expand its reach in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) and feed kids while schools are closed. Giant Food’s donation supports more than 1,200 kids across the DMV region with schools and nonprofits as additional partners.

“We are grateful to be working with Boy & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to distribute the food that’s so generously supported by Giant Food,” said Blessings in a Backpack CEO Brooke Wiseman. “This partnership is an example of how, when we work together to end childhood hunger during this pandemic, we can do so much.”

President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Gabrielle Webster shared, “We are delighted to partner with Blessings in a Backpack and Giant Food to address the challenge of food scarcity among our region’s youth. The Greater Washington community relies upon Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington for year- around support, not just during the week or after school hours. It is wonderful to have allies in this important work and make a difference together.”

“We are proud to partner with Blessings in a Backpack and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to continue to fight against child hunger in our community,” said Felis Andrade, Giant Food Director of Community Relations. “We are here to assist our charitable partners in any way that we can during this unprecedented situation.”

As little as $4 will help provide one bag of food for a child while schools are closed. Click here to learn more about the organization’s COVID-19 response effort nationwide.