An Interview with Blessings’ First PC

As the first program coordinator (PC) of Blessings in a Backpack, Kevin Knochenmus has seen firsthand the impact of this life-changing program. He began working with Blessings in 2005 at Roosevelt Perry Elementary, where 99% of students lived in poverty. Kevin describes the program as more than just providing food; it’s a way to build community and show compassion.

Kevin has seen the program evolve and expand to other schools. “The program was so successful, and kids became pretty reliant on it. When kids would miss school, we’d have parents coming in to ask if they could get the food,” Kevin recalled.

In 2011, Kevin left Roosevelt Perry for Field Elementary, where he’s seen the Blessings in a Backpack program bring joy and nourishment to students. While fewer kids at Field receive Blessings, there’s still a need: 45% of children qualify for the program. Kevin says the kids depend on it.

Take Maria and Mario, for example, siblings who came to Field from Honduras. “When we give them their [Blessings], they just smile, ” Kevin said, “They’re really great kids.”

As Kevin prepares to retire in 2025, he reflects on the program’s evolution and its impact on children. He says the Blessings program makes school feel more like a community than it already is. And while there’s work involved—like storage and logistics—there’s nothing negative about it. The kids really enjoy it.

He emphasizes the importance of providing kid-friendly and nutritious foods that are easy to open, like cereals and jerky sticks—both perfect options that require minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.

Kevin offers words of encouragement to anyone interested in starting a Blessings program at their school, “Give it a shot. It’s a really good program.”