Love is a Verb Classroom Activities
Age: All ages
Time Commitment: Varies
Let’s spread love and kindness together!
Did you know that 78% of children who receive Blessings in a Backpack food say they feel cared for by their community? That’s because Love is a Verb – it’s an active experience. We’ve curated a list of fun, actionable activities that teach compassion and kindness and give children the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. These service activities can be easily adapted by troops, church groups, and families.
Children will cultivate an understanding of childhood hunger, develop empathy, and take action. Working together, they will:
- Watch a Maddi’s Fridge video.
- Collect and donate money to provide food for peers in their community struggling with food insecurity.
- Donate inspirational note cards to a local Blessings in a Backpack program. We will include the cards in the food bags that children receive on Fridays. Click here to find a program near you.
Maddi’s Fridge, written by Lois Brandt, is a children’s picture book that raises awareness about poverty and hunger. Several Blessings in a Backpack supporters, including Jennifer Garner, have donated their time and talent to read Maddi’s Fridge.
Click here for access to all the videos.
Choose the video best suited for your class and project it on the big screen!
Inspired to help Blessings in a Backpack put food in kids’ backpacks, much like Sofia helped Maddi? As a class, troop, or family, come together to collect money and donate it to Blessings in a Backpack. Set a fundraising goal. $5 will feed a child for one weekend; $175 will feed a child for an entire school year!
Cut, color, and personalize adorable printable Valentine’s Day cards to donate to a local Blessings program. Or mail them to our Chicago office, and we’ll find backpacks for them.
Blessings in a Backpack
Attn: Anita Knazze
303 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2030
Chicago, IL 60601
Click here to download the cards. Formatted for 8.5 x 11″ paper.
- Watch videos of Blessings supporters reading Maddi’s Fridge.
- Set a fundraising goal for your classroom. Collect the money and donate it to Blessings in a Backpack.
- Cut, color, and personalize adorable printable cards to donate to a local Blessings program or our Chicago office.
In 2018, actress and philanthropist Jennifer Garner hosted a Valentine’s Day party for her kids’ classmates (kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade), and Blessings in a Backpack was the beneficiary! Jennifer, her kids, and their friends packed 391 bags of weekend food and decorated note cards to donate to a Blessings in a Backpack program in Los Angeles.
This party inspired Blessings in a Backpack to create “Love Is a Verb” activities for classes across the country to put love into action — by getting involved and giving back!
Thank you for sharing the love with Blessings in a Backpack! Not only will you help a child in your community, but you’ll teach the children you love the importance of giving back!
We would love to see how your class, troop, youth group, or family used these activities to help others and spread kindness:
- Click here to connect with us on social media and share your photos and videos.
- Use the hashtags: #BlessingsinaBackpack #LoveisaVerb