September 11, 2020 – Today, Big Blue Backpacks announced it will begin its fifth year of service. The mission of Big Blue Backpacks is to purchase food items to be placed into food bags for weekend nourishment for students at Dennis Lab School. Currently, they serve 80 students at Dennis Lab School and provide them with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The families that are enrolled in Big Blue Backpacks are not charged. The program is free for those who receive food.
“I would like to congratulate the Big Blue Backpacks team for successfully providing weekend meals and snacks to 80 students in need at Dennis Lab School over the past academic year; we were even more successful in doing so when schools shut down due to COVID-19,” said Mary Garrison, Big Blue Backpacks advisor and professor of social work at Millikin University. “Our community impact is great as students benefit from nutrition that will enhance their academic skills for school success.”
Students from Millikin involved in Big Blue Backpacks include Joycelyn VanAntwerp, Harrison Atkins, Mackenzie Dixon, Joey Davies and Katie Gessford.
There are four tiers of donations to choose from, and the tiers include:
School Desk – $80 – This will sponsor one student for the entire academic year. Lunch Table – $800 – This sponsors 10 students for the academic year. Classroom – $2,000 – This helps sponsor 25 students for the school year. School Bus – $4,000 – School Bus sponsors 50 students throughout the academic year.
For more information on how to donate, e-mail Mary Garrison at mgarrison@millikin.edu or visit them on Facebook at Facebook.com/BigBlueBackpacks.
