Oconomowoc, Wis.-based ORBIS Corp. continues to partner with Blessings in a Backpack of Waukesha County (BIAB) to provide weekend nutrition to students at Magee Elementary School who may lack access to nutritious food on the weekends. 

While the students are provided meals on the free and reduced lunch programs at school during the week, they often lack resources on Saturday and Sunday. Lack of nutrition can result in physical health problems, shortened attention spans, lower IQs and poorer grade ahievements.   

This school year, Blessings in a Backpack Waukesha County Chapter is working to feed over 3,400 children at 42 schools in Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Sussex, Hartland Lakeside, Kettle Moraine and Menomonee Falls districts. 

As more than 11,000 children struggle with hunger on the weekends in Waukesha County alone, ORBIS hopes its lead sponsorship of Magee Elementary will increase awareness and inspire other businesses and community members to get involved, ultimately decreasing the number of hungry children to zero.  

“ORBIS has been working with Blessings in a Backpack Waukesha County Chapter since 2015, and with our headquarters being in Waukesha County, this cause hits close to home for a lot of our people,” said Norm Kukuk, president at ORBIS and board member of Blessings in a Backpack of Waukesha County. “It’s been inspiring to see ORBIS employees unite around this cause, donating their time and expertise, and we hope our support can empower others to give back to their own communities.”   

As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings in a Backpack offers many ways to get involved, including partnerships, event sponsorships, corporate employee engagement events and volunteer opportunities to help feed children in our community.   

“Corporate partnerships are critical in sustaining the Blessings in a Backpack program of feeding kids on the weekend. When we receive support from a company like ORBIS, it makes an immense impact in the community,” said Susan Reed, managing director at Blessings in a Backpack of Waukesha County. 

She notes that it takes $5 to feed one child for one weekend and $175 for the entire school year.