ROCHESTER / ROCHESTER HILLS
PACKING INFORMATION
First Congregational Church
1315 Pine Street
Rochester, MI
Wednesday, Time Varies
To volunteer: Email Us
STEERING COMMITTEE
Chairperson:
Kim Williams
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
It is with gratitude that we acknowledge the success of Blessings in a Backpack in the Rochester Community Schools. This volunteer-based program would not be possible without the generous support from our community. Blessings in a Backpack provides six simple meals for students in need each weekend during the school year. Food is provided by Meijer at wholesale costs. Volunteers gather each Wednesday to pack bags of food at the First Congregational Church at 1315 N. Pine Street in Rochester. These bags are then delivered to local schools and placed in students’ backpacks before school is dismissed for the weekend.
We piloted the program in 2010 with donations from a group of physicians at Beaumont Hospital and a Mini-Grant from The Brooksie Way. We were able to make a commitment to feed students over the weekend at 5 of our Title One schools. By 2017, we e delivering to 17 schools in the Rochester Community Schools. Our students range in age from preschool to our adult transitional students. We have continued to feed these students each year. It costs $155 to feed a student for a year.
The success of Blessings in a Backpack embodies the spirit of a town that works hard. We provide opportunities for individuals and companies to give back. Research shows that healthy well-nourished children learn better, are more likely to attend school and can take advantage of educational opportunities. By eliminating the risk factor of hunger, Blessings in a Backpack can enrich our students’ lives as well as strengthen our community. Nourished kids are ready to learn. Food is an essential building block and a true blessing to a hungry child.
What happens to these students over the summer months? Logistically, it is very hard to reach these students. We have partnered with the Rochester Hills Public Library to deliver meals during the summer months. Read More…
Scholarships
for Students
Along with our summer program, we also have two $1,000 Blessings in a Backpack scholarships that we offer each year. One scholarship is for a student who has benefitted from our program and one for a student who has given back through community service. These scholarships are for continued education beyond high school- trade school, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree. If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please contact the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester for more information.