Thank you to each and every donation made to the Challenge this year! Thank you to all the sponsors that matched every donation! Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island will be able to provide much needed nutrition to children in need.
Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island (BPBSI) has been helping feed hungry children at designated schools in Charleston County since 2014. These children, identified by school counselors, typically qualify for free breakfast and lunch during the school day but are food insecure on weekends and school holidays. We provide a bag of nutritious food to fill this gap.
A typical weekend bag consists of 3 proteins, 2 breakfast items, milk, 4-6 snacks such as granola bars, 2 fruit cups and a fresh apple or orange. Currently BPBSI is providing a weekend “backpack” of food to 359 children at three school (twice the number compared to 2021). Our volunteers assist with weekly shopping, packing and delivering “backpacks” to schools.
When Charleston County Schools began opening again from COVID-19, we all were concerned for the families. Schools opened last September with many safety restrictions and we have been able to continue our mission. Our numbers are increasing as more children are attending in-school instruction and families are still struggling financially.
Our success is possible due to the outpouring of support from our community. The average cost per child each school year is $250. Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and relies totally on donations, grants and fundraisers. We are an all-volunteer organization and pay no salaries. Contact us at: backpackbuddiesseabrookisland@gmail.com
The 2022 Goal of the “Mike Gorski and Friends Challenge” is $140,000 Plus for the Backpack Buddies!! Just call or text Mike Gorski at 864-316-3894 to make a donation.
Mike Gorski, Owner of Island Transportation is BACK ONCE AGAIN with MORE FRIENDS than ever before for the 2022 Challenge! This Challenge directly benefits two programs, the Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island and Backpack Buddies of the Kiawah Women’s Foundation. This year, Mike has set the goal with the help of his friends at $140,000 plus for this great and much-needed worthy cause.
Mike launched this project 6 years ago to help raise needed additional funds for both Backpack Buddies’ programs. Each year the Challenge has proven to be more successful than the prior year and he expects the same for this year!
The Covid-19 Crisis has brought unique challenges to every organization, especially to groups whose mission is to fight hunger like the Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island and the Backpack Buddies of Kiawah Women’s Foundation. Our two organizations are both 501(c) 3 nonprofits whose mission is to feed local, hungry school children. These children receive breakfast and lunch at school but are food insecure on weekends and school holidays. As students have begun in-school instruction or count has rise to over 650 weekly bags to children. At the request, of community social workers, we are also assisting 30 of the most “at risk” of hunger households with weekly large family bags of groceries.
Making a donation is very easy. Just call or text Mike Gorski at 864-316-3894 and tell him your donation amount. He will provide all of the details for the different ways that you can make your donation.
Thank you in advance for your support and please don’t forget to get your donation matched dollar-for-dollar by making your donation by March 31, 2022.
We are off to a great 2021-2022 School year! Thanks to our loyal supporters and volunteers, we are providing weekend “backpacks” to 359 children each week. Thank You!
Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island 