Mayor Randy McClement, along with hundreds of volunteers, packed bags full of food as part of “Blessings in a Backpack Day” at Orchard Grove Elementary School on Thursday, September 18th.
CONTACT: Susan Harding, Public Information Coordinator 301-600-1385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 19, 2014
MAYOR TAKES PART IN “BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK DAY”
Frederick, MD - Mayor Randy McClement, along with hundreds of volunteers, packed bags full of food as part of “Blessings in a Backpack Day” at Orchard Grove Elementary School on Thursday, September 18th. This event was part of a nationwide effort to combat childhood hunger.
Every weekend, children across the country go hungry because they don’t have enough food to eat. While fed during the school week by the Federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program, these students have little or no means of obtaining food on the weekends. Blessings in a Backpack is a 501(c)3 organization that provides food for more than 65,000 of these elementary school children across 45 different states on weekends during the school year, filling a significant hunger gap for these children.
“I am honored to participate in Blessings in a Backpack Day. Seeing the many volunteers and the number of children they are able to feed every week through this program is amazing,” said Mayor McClement.
The United States Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in June declaring Thursday, September 18, 2014 “Blessings in a Backpack Day.” Mayor McClement is one of the mayors who took part in this initiative across the country.
“I am thrilled to have Mayor McClement participate in ‘Blessings in a Backpack Day’ and contribute to our efforts,” said Hermine Bernstein, the Blessings in a Backpack, Frederick Schools Program Coordinator for Orchard Grove, Parkway and Monocacy Elementary Schools. “Blessings in a Backpack allows for teachers, students and community members to work together to benefit the lives of children, and I have witnessed firsthand the difference this program makes not only for the kids, but also for their families and the school as a whole.”
Each week, Program Coordinators and local volunteers nationwide pack and deliver bags full of food to students at school on Fridays to take home with them over the weekend. Here in Frederick, Over 300 students benefit from this program.
“I am so grateful for the support of Mayor McClement and the U.S. Conference of Mayors for their support of our work across the nation,” said Brooke Wiseman, CEO, Blessings in a Backpack. “No child should have to go hungry, and I hope today’s efforts continue to raise awareness of the hunger our nation’s children face, and encourage others to become involved in Blessings in a Backpack – helping us feed the future of America.”
For more information about Blessings in a Backpack, please visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org. For more information about getting involved in our local program, please visit Blessings in a Backpack, Frederick Schools on Facebook or contact Program Coordinator, Hermine Bernstein at fredherm2@comcast.net.
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About Blessings in a Backpack: Hunger has both short- and long-term negative effects on children’s health and ability to succeed in school. Blessings in a Backpack is a results-oriented 501(c)(3) program dedicated to ensuring that impoverished American elementary school children are fed over weekends. Blessings in a Backpack currently feeds more than 65,000 children in 45 different states. For more information visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org.
For more information contact:
Hermine Bernstein
Local Program Coordinator
Fredherm2@comcast.net
301-788-7116.
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