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As a not-for-profit organization, Big Blue Backpacks operates entirely on support from the community. Garrison remarked that the Big Blue Backpacks hub is located within the Good Samaritan Inn. Aly Barnes, Big Blue Backpacks co-chair, commented on the community's involvement.

Barnes gave thanks to several supporters in the community, such as Dennis Lab School, Ballance Foundation, the Good Samaritan Inn, Aldi Food Stores and the WSOY Annual Food Drive for their contributions to Big Blue Backpacks over the years.

“We are looking to have another successful year and encourage the public to get involved in Big Blue Backpacks,” Barnes said, explaining that the organization needs to raise $10,000 for the coming year to supply enough food for up to 160 students. 

They offer several donation options with different levels of sponsorship:

• For $80 you can sponsor a desk; this will feed one child for a school year.
• For $800 you can sponsor a lunch table; this will feed 10 children for a school year.
• For $2,000 you can sponsor a classroom; this will feed 25 children for a school year.
• For $4,000 you can sponsor a school bus; this will feed 50 children for a school year.

While Big Blue Backpacks significantly impacts the children who receive food each week, the students involved at �ǿ����޴�ý University also benefit through service and hands-on learning. “This connects with a lot of my time spent at �ǿ����޴�ý with Performance Learning. That’s what we do with our students. They are the ones who make this happen. It is truly run by the students,” Mary Garrison explained. Since the start of Big Blue Backpacks 35 �ǿ����޴�ý students have been involved. The students care a great deal about the program, and those who are currently participating were recruited by previous members. 

Big Blue Backpacks focuses on one year at a time, providing seven meals and snacks each weekend to all the students they can, along with food to The Little Pantry that sits outside of the Dennis Lab School Kaleidoscope Campus. However, all of the students and individuals involved with the organization have hopes for future growth, whether that means serving more meals, more schools or even a truck delivering food directly to students’ homes. Rachel Dick, counselor at Dennis School, said that she would love to see the program come full circle.

Many of the students who were originally enrolled in the program to receive food are now in high school. “The students will tell you how much it’s impacted their life; being able to leave on Friday, have food, come back to school, and be able to perform to the best of their abilities,” Dick commented. 

For those interested in supporting Big Blue Backpacks, please contact Marty Brilley at mbrilley@millikin.edu.