Quarterly News | March ’23

Quarterly News | March ’23
A child in a dress playing hopscotch

FAST FACTS

Skipping Into Spring Break

Central Florida students just returned from spring break. Thanks to your generosity, 5,690 students across Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties went home with extra food to ensure they have enough food until they return to school after the break.

Our Waitlist Is Growing

We have many schools on our waitlist with needs ranging from 10 students to 200.  For more information on sponsoring a school or a classroom, please contact us at sarahcarlson@blessingsinabackpack.org or (407) 607-6599.

Pack-a-Thon

WHAT’S AHEAD

Pack-a-Thon: May 2023

Participate in our first ever team building pack-a-thon event!

Join other like-minded companies across Central Florida to pack bags of weekend food for kids!

Here’s how it works:

  1. Choose how many bags you want to pack. Budget $6 per bag.
  2. Pick a date in the first half of May.
  3. Round up volunteers from your team.
  4. Pack food!

Click here for more information on how to get started or sign up.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Monthly Packing Events at MetroWest or Westpointe Elementary

One Thursday of every month of the school year, we gather to pack food for students at MetroWest and Wespointe Elementary Schools. For more information or the link to sign up to help, please email Sarah Carlson at sarahcarlson@blessingsinabackpack.org.

Tentative Upcoming Dates:
  • April 20th
  • May 18th

Create Encouraging Notecards

Do you know a high school student looking for Bright Futures service hours? We are always in need of encouraging note cards for our students’ Blessings bags!

Find downloadable templates and helpful tips by clicking here.

JOIN THE JUSTIN ROSE BIRDIES FOR BLESSINGS BRIGADE:

Justin won Pebble Beach.  Let’s celebrate by feeding kids this weekend!

  • Justin Rose won Pebble Beach with 17 birdies and three eagles.
  • Make a donation based on the number of birdies and eagles he made.
  • We feed Orlando area children.

You are now a member of the Justin Rose Birdies for Blessings Brigade!

New Brigade members will be recognized on the Orlando Blessings website, social media, and in our quarterly e-news!

CORE NEWS:

Blessings in a Backpack Fuels Kids in Central Florida Schools

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 52% of students in the United States are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The need in Florida is slightly greater at nearly 59%, but Blessings in a Backpack is making sure students in Central Florida have enough to eat all week long.

Thank you, WESH 2, for naming Blessings in a Backpack a ‘Community Champion’ for kids in Central Florida! Click here to read the full story.

A Great Day of Golf at Our Inaugural Shootout at Alaqua!

We raised an incredible $77,000 at our inaugural Shootout at Alaqua golf event! Big thanks to our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who helped plan and execute the event. All had a great time, and we cannot wait to see you all in 2024. Look for a save-the-date coming soon!

National Nutrition Month: A Focus on Children’s Food Options

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service are making important updates to school nutrition standards to support healthy kids based on feedback from school nutrition professionals, public health and nutrition experts, and parents.

Read More

GOOD APPLES:

Nemours Children’s Health + Blessings in a Backpack

Nemours believes food insecurity is one of the most critical factors regarding a child’s health. That’s why they’re partnering with Blessings to ensure the students at Boggy Creek, Layer, and Winegard Elementary Schools have food on the weekends.

Read More

Thank you to KFC for coming by with your Sharemobile!

KFC partnered with Blessings in a Backpack to deliver its “finger lickin’ good” meals to families in the Orlando community facing hardship.

The holiday food truck stopped at Palmetto Elementary School to deliver KFC buckets of chicken with sides, to help feed those in need.
They also gave out KFC gift cards to students and families at the school.
Volunteers said their goal was to lend a hand to those who have been displaced during the recent hurricanes. The two companies hope to deliver 70,000 meals to families and children nationwide.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS:

Reflects giving from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022

$100,000 and Up

Kate & Justin Rose Foundation Logo

$50,000 – $99,999

$15,000 – $24,999

Judd Webster

$10,000 – $14,999

James Gorman

$2,500 – $4,999

Conga

Pete Madison

 

$1,000 – $2,499

Scott Cahill

Lisa Caldwell

Sarah and Eric Carlson

Cedella and Luis Fermin

FUMC Hannah’s Closet

Diana Griffin

Lynne & Stan Hildebrand

Jr Davis Construction

Matthew Levy and Tracy Meulman

Lisa Mouton

National Business Aviation Association

Jill Palmer

Marriott Vacations Worldwide*

Walt Disney World Foundation

Lee Wybranski LLC

John and Melissa Youngblood*

 

$500 – $999

Aflac Team Weiss and Associates*

Lauren & Barry Bloom

Christopher Clark

Gina Fugnitto

Maggie Hickson

Tyler Kurau

Kim Sessa Moore

Orlando Magic*

Brittanie Olavarria

Michelle Reed

Dave Rusnak

Laurie Sullivan and Melissa Albright

 

THE JUSTIN ROSE BIRDIES FOR BLESSINGS BRIGADE

Anonymous Donor

David Mitchell

Charles Young

 

*Denotes In-Kind Donor