BALTIMORE — More than 100 Baltimore Orioles players, coaches, staff and fans came together for a high-energy packing event that resulted in 1,250 bags of food for children facing food insecurity in Southwest Baltimore.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Baltimore Orioles, benefited Blessings in a Backpack and directly supported the Mount St. Joseph High School Blessings program. The program serves students at nearby Beechfield Elementary and Middle School, located less than four miles from Camden Yards.

Approximately 113 people participated in the event, including about 100 fans who purchased tickets to pack alongside Orioles players, coaches, and staff. 100% of ticket proceeds will benefit Blessings in a Backpack, with the Orioles matching all ticket sales to double the impact.

The 1,250 bags packed during the event will provide consistent weekend nutrition for local students who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school week. Because of this support, Mount St. Joseph’s program can now serve 100 children each week for the remainder of the school year. The program began the year serving 50 students.

For Mount St. Joseph students, the impact is personal.

As the food from the event was being delivered, a group of boys from Mount St. Joseph sat together with their counselor, eating pizza and talking about how proud they were to support weekend food for younger students at the neighboring elementary school. The moment reflected the heart of the day: kids helping kids in their own community.

“This support didn’t just help the program grow,” said Paige Fowler, marketing manager at Blessings in a Backpack. “It also relieved a tremendous amount of pressure, allowing the team at Mount St. Joseph to focus on sustainability and running the program well. That’s the kind of impact that lasts.”

Valencia Hike, the Orioles’ director of community engagement, said the experience resonated deeply with the organization.

“The story about the boys at Mount St. Joseph sitting together, waiting for the food and talking about how proud they are to support younger students is incredibly powerful,” Hike said. “Kids feeding kids is a beautiful reminder of why this work matters. Knowing this effort helped expand the program and strengthen its long-term stability is exactly the kind of impact we strive to be part of.”

Throughout the event, fans played an active role by packing bags, connecting with players, and learning how their participation would support children in their city. The enthusiasm and generosity in the room underscored the Orioles’ commitment to community partnerships that create meaningful, local impact.

Through the combined efforts of the Orioles, their fans, and Blessings in a Backpack, children at Beechfield Elementary and Middle School will have access to nutritious food on weekends for the rest of the school year, demonstrating what’s possible when a community comes together with purpose.