Backpacks of food for families at Juarez Elementary

More than 200 families at Juarez Elementary School in Serra Mesa will receive backpacks of food every Friday thanks to the Blessings in a Backpack program and the Walmart Foundation.

“Through Walmart’s support, we are able to help hundreds of local students receive access to the food they need to stay healthy and strong and help them stay focused at school,” said Isaac Santillan, guidance assistant at Juarez Elementary. “We appreciate Walmart’s commitment to serving local families and helping them live better.”

A $25,000 grant awarded to Blessings in a Backpack by the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program is making it possible for 250 families at Juarez to receive the backpacks.

The grant was presented to Blessings in a Backpack during a check presentation ceremony held recently at Juarez Elementary. During the ceremony, San Diego City Councilmember Lorie Zapf joined Principal Marceline Marques to commend Walmart for its support of the program.

“Walmart continues to demonstrate its commitment to San Diego’s families through its generous philanthropic efforts and this grant is no different,” said Councilmember Zapf. “These funds will benefit students at Juarez Elementary in the most tangible of ways – by providing food to ensure they are well fed and nourished.”

The contribution to Blessings in a Backpack was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program. Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better.

Blessings in a Backpack currently supports 60,000 students at 541 schools in 42 states around the country. Through its Feeding the Future program, the organization provides a backpack full of food each Friday to students at participating schools who are fed during the week by the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal program.

San Diego Walmart Neighborhood Market Store Manager Luciano Villela presented the grant on behalf of Walmart and spoke about the company’s commitment to ending hunger in America.

“We are proud to support the efforts of Blessings in a Backpack and to help the organization achieve our shared goal of helping communities throughout California live better,” said Kim Sentovich, Walmart senior vice president for the Pacific Division. “Walmart strongly believes in giving back locally, and we look forward to watching this great organization continue its work and find new ways to positively impact lives.”