The Allen County Public Library is excited to announce an expansion of its partnership with Blessings in a Backpack which launched in 2024 and distributed more than 4,400 bags of shelf-stable food.
News release from the Allen County Public Library:
ACPL and Blessings in a Backpack to Distribute 10,000+ Bags of Food with Expanded Summer Partnership
Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 12, 2025) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is excited to announce an expansion of its partnership with Blessings in a Backpack, a program designed to fight childhood hunger, which launched in 2024 and distributed more than 4,400 bags of shelf-stable food. This year, the partnership plans to double the amount of food it gives away to local children throughout the summer starting May 30 and running through July 25.
Through this partnership, the ACPL and Blessings in a Backpack will distribute bags filled with non-perishable food, each providing enough to feed a child over the weekend. The partnership will distribute a total of approximately 10,800 bags across the Main Library, Georgetown, Hessen Cassel, Little Turtle, Pontiac, Shawnee, Tecumseh, and Waynedale branches. These locations will also continue their ongoing partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS) to distribute free lunches and snacks Monday through Friday.
“Combating food insecurity is not just about providing food; it’s about creating a supportive network that empowers every child to thrive,” said Jama Ross, Executive Director of Blessings in a Backpack. “Through this partnership, we can nourish both the body and the mind, ensuring that no child is left hungry or without the resources they need to succeed.”
According to the St. Joe Community Health Foundation, 14% of Allen County residents are food insecure, including more than 18,000 children.
“We are so pleased to be able to expand our partnership with Blessings in a Backpack and continue to serve our youngest patrons with weekend food,” said ACPL Youth Services Manager Jacki Fulwood. “It’s challenging to think about reading when you’re worried about where your next meal will come from. It is our hope that providing this service is one more way we can support our community, fill in gaps over the summer, and connect with our patrons in meaningful ways.”
The partnership is made possible thanks to the generous support of Health First of Allen County, Fire Police City County Federal Credit Union, and the Surack Family Foundation. The effort also aligns with ACPL’s annual Summer Learning Program, which provides engaging reading activities to thousands of children across the library’s fourteen locations each summer.
Supplemental food bags will be available to all children 18 years of age and younger, and the food is free of charge. Click here for more information on meal distributions and the Summer Learning Program.
About the Allen County Public Library
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 135 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 3.9 million items, with a circulation total of 4.6 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
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