Blessings in a Backpack is proud to announce a new national partnership with Shady Rays – one of the nation’s most sought-after lifestyle and adventure eyewear brands. We are honored to be their lead charitable partner for the Shady Rays Impact program. Together, we’re working to help ensure children across America have the weekend food they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Launching January 1, 2026, this partnership represents Shady Rays’ commitment to making a difference in the communities across the country. Every time you shop with Shady Rays – either online or at one of their eight retail locations across the country – that purchase will help provide a bag filled with nutritious, ready-to-eat food for a child to take home for the weekend.

A Simple Purchase, Weekend Food for a Child

For millions of children across the country, school meals provide steady nutrition Monday through Friday. But when the weekend arrives, many face unreliable access to food. Blessings in a Backpack exists to change that, and Shady Rays is joining us in expanding this mission to feed kids nationwide.

Through this partnership, every Shady Rays purchase directly fuels a hunger-free weekend. Whether shopping for sunglasses, goggles, or lifestyle accessories, customers will now be able to see their impact in real-time via the Impact Counter integrated into Shady Rays’ website and at retail stores. This feature tracks how many hunger-free weekends customers have helped provide, turning every purchase into visible, meaningful change.

“We are thrilled to partner with Shady Rays and their community of socially conscious customers who understand that addressing childhood hunger requires sustained commitment,” said Erin Kerr, CEO of Blessings in a Backpack. “With millions of children facing food insecurity nationwide, this partnership will help us reach the kids who need us most.”

A Partnership Rooted in Community Impact

Shady Rays has built a strong legacy of philanthropy since its founding, from sustainability initiatives to community support programs, and this partnership marks the brand’s most ambitious commitment yet. By selecting Blessings in a Backpack as the lead charity for the Shady Rays Impact program, the company is dedicating its nationwide customer community, team members, and retail presence to addressing one of the most pressing issues facing children today: weekend hunger.

Beyond donations, Shady Rays employees will actively participate in packing events and community outreach, rolling up their sleeves alongside volunteers to assemble food bags that will be delivered directly to schools across the country.

Chris Ratterman, Founder and CEO of Shady Rays, emphasized the transparency of the program: “Our customers shouldn’t have to wonder whether their purchase makes a difference—they’ll see through it with our Impact Counter online and in stores. When you choose Shady Rays, you’re helping to feed a child who might otherwise go hungry this weekend. That’s the kind of tangible change that matters.”

Why Weekend Nutrition Matters

During the 2024–2025 school year, Blessings in a Backpack provided more than 2.7 million hunger-free weekends to children nationwide. Research shows the difference is immediate and powerful:

• Students return to school better prepared to learn.
• Attendance, especially on Fridays, improves.
• Educators report stronger concentration, better behavior, and more energy in the classroom.

Food insecurity often remains hidden in plain sight, but this partnership makes the invisible visible. As Chris Ratterman said, “Childhood hunger seems like a foreign concept to many people, but it’s happening in every community—maybe even four miles from your house. This partnership makes the invisible visible. It turns awareness into action and transforms everyday purchases into lifelines for kids who need us most.”

Looking Ahead

This partnership marks a bold step forward in our shared mission to help kids nationwide. Together with Shady Rays and their customers, we’re expanding our ability to reach more children, more communities, and more weekends, one backpack at a time.

To learn more about the Shady Rays Impact partnership and how your purchase can help feed a child this weekend, visit: bit.ly/4oUcXtL