Owens Corning provides 6,000 hunger-free weekends in just 45 minutes

In San Diego., 86,000 kids live in poverty – that’s enough to fill the Padres Petco Park twice. Luckily, Owens Corning teamed up with Blessings in a Backpack for the first time to take a big swing at childhood weekend hunger in the San Diego area by hosting the largest single-packing event of the year!

On the morning of March 20, in just 45 minutes, 500 of Owens Corning’s contractors packed 6,000 bags of weekend nourishment to benefit kids at Hancock Elementary. This Purple Star school* educates 655 kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. At this school, 70% of kids are low-income and qualify for the life-changing food each weekend.

This transformative event came on the last day of Owen Corning’s 2024 Platinum Conference, where they celebrated the leadership and achievements of their top contractors. The theme of the conference was “Lead with Purpose”, and their work with Blessings in a Backpack allowed those team members who lead with purpose within their jobs each day to lead for a brand-new purpose – to join the fight to end childhood weekend hunger.

“For this to be our first event with Owens Corning is truly remarkable and shows how invested Owens Corning is in supporting local communities, veteran families, and children,” said Alexis Hartman, manager of corporate Partnerships at Blessings in a Backpack.

“The company’s culture of care and compassion was evident and palpable in every meeting, interaction, and conversation I had with Owens Corning team members and contractors. I could not be more grateful for Owens Corning’s partnership and support of our work.”

That compassion was made even more evident when it was discovered that one of the Owens Corning contractors, Caleb Gouge, is a program coordinator of a Blessings program in Circleville, OH. Thanks to his dedication and active local fundraising efforts, his Pickaway County program feeds 296 students every weekend.

In the wake of such an incredible feat, Owens Corning and Blessings in a Backpack are looking forward to a continued partnership. On the horizon is another packing event benefiting children in Washington, D.C.