20 Feb Blessings-in-a-Backpack Visits Local School

Blessings-in-a-Backpack program finally meets its recipients.

Responding to a generous local invitation, the Annunciation Philoptochos finally made its way down to Bowling Green Elementary School in South Sacramento to visit a few of the Blessing-in-a-Backpack program’s student recipients before taking off for summer break. Congregating week after week on Thursday nights for the past school year, the program under the chairmanship of Philoptochos member, Chris Dariotis, has maintained its commitment of filling 100 backpacks per week, going toward the nutritional sustenance of underprivileged children over school weekends.

Invited by the school’s principal and program coordinator, Susan Gibson, the adorable students offered lemonade and cookies to all present as a token of thanks for many weekends of loving, material support brought to them through these backpacks filled with goodies and food-stuffs.

Their hospitality was truly uplifting.

The heartfelt time spent getting to know the children reminded everyone of the pressing and persistent inequalities and conditions of socio-economic displacement still experienced in our day and age, just miles from where we pray. This drove many to the verge of tears.

After saying their goodbyes to the children, the Philoptochos members returned to the Hellenic Center for a final backpack assembly routine. Inspired and uplifted, they now eagerly await Fall for what promises to be another school year of genuine philanthropy.

Please note that the majority of the photos taken were the work of the students themselves, facilitated through the use of a borrowed camera.

 Information Regarding the Blessings-in-a-Backpack Program

Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement.  99% of the students at Bowling Green are on the Free and Reduced Meal Program so they are fed during the school week, but we want to make sure that they are getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too.  Students who participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program show marked improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior and health.  Food is an essential building block, and in this case truly is a blessing, especially to a hungry child!

There are many ways you can volunteer.

• Come Thursday nights during the school year for the backpack assembly.
• Volunteer to transport the backbacks to and from the school.
• $80.00 feeds one child on the weekends for one 38 week school year. 100% of your money goes to feeding that school and is tax deductible.