ACPL, Blessings in a Backpack Announce 2026 Food Distribution for Kids

News release from the Allen County Public Library:

(FORT WAYNE, IN) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is continuing its commitment to local families this summer through its annual partnership with Blessings in a Backpack, helping ensure children have reliable access to food even when school is out of session.
On Fridays from June 5 through July 31, eight ACPL locations will serve as distribution sites for Blessings in a Backpack weekend meal bags. Each bag contains non-perishable food to help sustain a child over the weekend. This effort builds on the Library’s long-standing collaboration with Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS), which provides free lunches and snacks to youth throughout the summer. Together, these partnerships create a more complete safety net for families, addressing weekday and weekend food needs.
“In the summer, learning and nutrition go hand in hand,” said ACPL Youth Services Manager Jacki Fulwood. “We know children are more likely to stay engaged in reading and enrichment activities when their basic needs are met. By working alongside FWCS and Blessings in a Backpack, we’re helping ensure kids have both the fuel to learn and the opportunity to grow.”
According to the Kids Count Data Center, nearly 18% of children in Allen County are food‑insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to enough nutritious food throughout the year — especially during the summer months when school meals aren’t available. 
In 2025, ACPL distributed more than 8,000 total Blessings in a Backpack food bags throughout the summer.
Distribution will take place at the Main Library and the Georgetown, Hessen Cassel, Little Turtle, Pontiac, Shawnee, Tecumseh, and Waynedale branches. Free lunches and snacks will be available Monday through Friday, with weekend meal bags distributed each Friday. All meals are free for youths aged 18 and under. No registration is required.
“Summer can be one of the most challenging times for families facing food insecurity,” said Blessings in a Backpack Executive Director Jama Ross. “We are proud to partner with ACPL to meet children where they already are—at their neighborhood libraries—so they can stay nourished, active, and ready to learn.”
The program coincides with ACPL’s 2026 Summer Learning Program, “Unearth a Story,” which invites children and families to explore, discover, and stay engaged in learning all summer long through reading, hands-on activities, and special events.
For more information, visit acpl.info/summer.
The Blessings in a Backpack initiative is made possible through the generous support of Brotherhood Mutual, Cathy Fitzgerald Trust, Lippert, and Surack Family Foundation. The 2026 Summer Learning Program is made possible through the generous support of Foellinger Foundation, the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and the Allen County Public Library Foundation
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