Blessings in a Backpack
Waste Management Phoenix Open
By: Sara Holmes

We kicked off our second “Blessings in a Backpack” event on February 24, 2010, during the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and it was a great success!  Joining our members and other dignitaries were Mike McQuaid representing The Thunderbirds and Stan Curtis, Founder of Blessings in a Backpack.  The event took place at Nevitt Elementary School in Phoenix.

Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that provides nourishment to school children that are on the federal and reduced meal program.  One out of every six children in the United States is at a risk for hunger.  Our main goal in establishing this collaborative program at Nevitt Elementary was to make sure these children were being fed.   In this program, 400 children take home a backpack every other week filled with macaroni and cheese, Pop Tarts, Gatorade, Ravioli and animal crackers.  Eight hundred children are fed within a two week period!

During our visit to the school, we were able to meet and interact with the children.  Some of the wives went to the classrooms and read a book or played games like Simon Says, while others packed the backpacks. In talking with the assistant principal, Ken White, we learned how appreciative the students and their parents are.  Parents of the children also help out in the packing process! It was nice to learn of the parental involvement and to hear their positive feedback. 

While at the school, we were privileged to have the school choir sing “Rockin’ Robin” to us.  This was a highlight to the day and was so entertaining with all the hand motions.  They did an amazing job!  The children also showed off their creativity and talent in the posters they made for the PGA TOUR wives and our partners.  We took the signs back to the course to display them in Player Dining for all to see.

We have many sponsors that help to execute this program each week.  Sara Lee passed out loaves of bread to each child.  Sheraton Hotel volunteers come every week to help pack the backpacks.  Fry’s Grocery Store provides all the food for the backpack program.  The Thunderbirds are our partner at Nevitt and Alliance also sponsors the program.  I know the school really appreciates all they do each and every week.

Blessings in a Backpack is a wonderful program, and I am so glad that I could be part of the event in Phoenix.  I was truly blessed and can’t wait to go to another event soon!

If you want to learn more about Blessings in a Backpack, please visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org.