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By Gwen Daubenmeyer

Gwen Daubenmeyer is the founder of our team. She brings an unwavering commitment to her clients and a get-it-done attitude. Gwen is unapologetically competitive. Marketing and negotiation are her Olympic events; if she could medal, she would. While winning is her “what,” her clients are her “why.”

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Many people assume that food insecurity only affects specific communities, but the reality is that even well-resourced school districts have students who don’t have enough to eat on the weekends. That’s where Blessings in a Backpack comes in. This national nonprofit helps fill that weekend gap by sending kids home on Fridays with six ready-to-eat meals—enough to cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner for both Saturday and Sunday. In the Lake Orion area, more than 20% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which means that two to three kids in every classroom may go hungry over the weekend.

Today, I’ll share how this local chapter works, how volunteers and donors make it possible, and why this program is so crucial to students’ success. From packing days to community fundraisers, there are many ways to get involved and help feed kids right here in our area.

For the full story behind Blessings in a Backpack – Lake Orion and how you can contribute, watch the video above or use the timestamps to skip to the parts you’re most interested in.

00:00 - Intro

00:24 - Blessings in a Backpack

00:55 - About Zale Financial Wealth Group

01:40 - What is Blessings in a Backpack?

02:20 - What does it do?

03:00 - What do we support?

04:04 - The areas supported

04:34 - How to volunteer

04:50 - How does the food donation work

05:34 - How to donate

05:53 - Our partner

06:02 - How we do our food donation

06:39 - Why is it called Blessings in a Backpack?

06:58 - What the food donation looks like

07:56 - Why we help students

09:23 - How long has this program existed?

09:40 - The numbers

11:22 - How to reach out for advice

12:00 - The fundraiser

12:48 - Check out our website

If you’re ready to support Blessings in a Backpack or would like to learn how to get involved, feel free to call or text me at 248-850-2575 or email me at hey@theintegrityteam.com. I’d be happy to answer your questions, connect you with local volunteer opportunities, or help you sponsor a child for the school year. Together, we can make sure every student has the food they need to thrive.

Want to work with us? Here are some ways to get involved.

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