USA Harvest and Blessings in a Backpack Success! [6/27/07]
USA Harvest (and Canadian Harvest) has partnered with Hilary for over three years to create and sustain many successful programs, including the Blessings in a Backpack initiative. This partnership has produced over 6 million meals donated to those less fortunate. During the first two months after Hurricane Katrina, Hilary, in partnership with USA Harvest, distributed over 2.5 million meals throughout the Gulf Coast. Hilary purchased the food along with a few partners. Through the Blessings in a Backpack program, Hilary is providing over 6000 meals a weekend at the Normandie Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles.
To see footage from the recent Blessings in a Backpack press conference at Normandie School, subscribe to Hilary's video podcast (available at iTunes and all other major podcast directories).
What You Can Do
Hilary's philanthropic work is very important to her. She wants to give back to those who need it especially kids and the military. Recently, Hilary donated money to the Hurricane Katrina relief funds including the American Red Cross and USA Harvest because she saw the devastation and all the people who had lost everything. Her donation with USA Harvest fed over 2,000,000 people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
You don't need to be a celebrity to help. Charitable organizations are usually willing to accept both cash and non-cash contributions. You can also help by volunteering your time.
Here Are A Few Examples:l Arrange to visit a local shelter and help serve meals.
l Donate "gently used" clothing, shoes, sweaters, coats or other items to your local drop-off centers.
l Take toys, videos, books and other items to a hospital or group home.
l Volunteer your time with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to help build housing for those in need. Some organizations offer teen
programs designed for weekends.
l Be a tutor, mentor or big brother/big sister.
l Visit a nursing home/veterans hospital and share your time with the older generation. Not only will you make new friends, but you can
also learn so much about history as they lived through much of what you are learning in school.
l Organize a neighborhood or park clean up with some of your friends.
