1 in 3 Kids Face Hunger. You’re Helping.

Darius and Darren receive BackPack meal packs full of child-friendly food through Golden Harvest community partner Weekend Blessings of Emanuel County.

At first there’s no answer at Phoebe’s house along a stretch of road just outside Swainsboro, Ga. But then she sees who — and what — is waiting and quickly comes to the door.

It’s her three children’s weekend BackPacks for the next two weeks, delivered by Golden Harvest community partner Weekend Blessings of Emanuel County.

“You have no idea how much this helps. It helps exponentially, it truly does,” she says, gathering up the bags full of healthy snacks and individual meals. There also are books for her kids — ages 13, 7 and 6 — who haven’t been able to pick their BackPacks up at school due to coronavirus concerns.

For almost 8 years, Weekend Blessings has been looking after hungry kids in Emanuel County Schools. Before schools closed, they sent children in need home with a BackPack meal pack filled with nutritious food each Friday.

But when concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic began to disrupt school systems, the program’s director Angel Lane knew she needed to find a new way to distribute the BackPacks.

Phoebe receives BackPack meal packs and books for her 3 kids.

The child-friendly meal packs are needed more now than ever as COVID-19 related disruptions leave 1 in 3 children in our area struggling with hunger.

So Weekend Blessings now partners with school teachers and counselors, and members of the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and Police Department every Friday to make the much-needed food deliveries. They drive door to door, dropping off BackPacks and books — but also offering smiles and encouragement to kids along their routes.

Phoebe usually picks up contract work to help supplement the family’s income, but those opportunities have disappeared since the start of the pandemic. She’s grateful that Weekend Blessings found ways to ensure kids in need still receive food assistance — thanks to you!