Blessings In A Backpack Hosts Third Annual Fundraiser

by Contributor | February 25, 2016 1:21 pm

OSWEGO – The third annual Blessings in a Backpack Blast Hunger fundraising event is gearing up to be the best yet.

“With a change in menu and venue we are hoping to draw in a bigger crowd,”  said Melissa Russell, Blessings in a Backpack program coordinator for Oswego.

This year’s event will take place at the Elks Lodge in Oswego on March 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“An additional change for this year is we are having a chicken BBQ.  Chicken dinners with three sides and a roll are available for $10,” Russell said.

As before, there will be crafts and vendors, silent auction items, baskets for raffle, 50/50, a bake sale, and a live DJ.

“Changing the location from the Church of the Resurrection to the Elks will help accommodate more crafters and vendors. There will also be more parking available. This has been the main fundraiser for the Oswego/Fulton chapter of BIB for the past couple of years. Thanks to the contributors of the past couple of events we have been able to continue and even add to our number of children served,” said Russell.

Blessings in a Backpack is a national organization whose mission is to help end childhood hunger.

Each week, shelf stable, easy to prepare food is sent home to students that are on the free or reduced lunch program.

“Currently we are feeding 250 students in the Oswego and Fulton school districts. 125 students in each district don’t have to worry about what they will eat on the weekend when they are not in school,” said Russell.

The Oswego/Fulton chapter of Blessing in Backpack began in 2013.

Two churches from Oswego, The Church of the Resurrection and Grace Lutheran, and Prince of Peace in Fulton decided to partner up to help feed hungry students.

“We began with 50 students total, 25 students in each city, and have grown to feed 250 students,” said Russell.

Only $80 feeds a student for the whole 38-week school year.

That’s only $2.10 per week.

To check for table availability, to order a chicken dinner or for more information on BIB, call Russell at 315-297-7802.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/blessings-in-a-backpack-hosts-third-annual-fundraiser/

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