Supplier donates thousands of backpacks

A Fort Lauderdale-based wholesale distributing company has donated nearly 6,000 backpacks to help feed hungry children in Hernando County, Fla.

For the eighth year, United National Consumer Suppliers gave new backpacks to nonprofit People Helping People. More than 600 needy children are part of its Weekend Blessing initiative.

Every Friday, elementary and middle school students are sent home with backpacks filled with food for the weekend.

For many elementary and middle school children, the most nutritious and filling meals of the week are school breakfasts and lunches.

Those who do not have sufficient food on

their tables during the weekend receive the backpacks filled with edibles.

The bags are returned each Monday, picked up by volunteers, cleaned and filled to begin the process again.

Since the inception of the program in 2010, UNCS has been the sole supplier of the backpacks used each year, which currently amounts to nearly 6,000 backpacks.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that children have an adequate supply of food for the weekend which impacts learning in a positive way for each new week,” said JoAnne Boggus, People Helping People board member and a director of the Weekend Blessings program.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that children have an adequate supply of food for the weekend which impacts learning in a positive way for each new week.” — JoAnne Boggus, People Helping People board member, director of Weekend Blessings program