Junior League of Wilmington recently presented Nourish NC with a gift of $20,000, Junior League officials announced in a news release.

The contribution brings to more than $40,000 the league’s gifts to Nourish NC, a nonprofit whose mission is to feed hungry children in New Hanover County.

“This money is used to provide backpacks of food and health essentials to children in need in [Wilmington’s] Youth Enrichment Zone,” Junior League president Alison Baringer said in the release. “Not only does the Junior League provide the funding for these backpacks, but Junior League volunteers also literally pack the bags themselves. This year alone, we are anticipating volunteering over 300 hours to pack over 700 backpacks." 

Food insecurity leads to a range of problems for children, including increased chronic health conditions, increased hospitalization rates, lower physical functioning, higher rates of depressive disorder and suicidal symptoms in adolescents, and lower math and reading achievements, the news release stated.

Junior League has been in a partnership relationship for two years with Nourish NC, which is providing food assistance to about 450 children this year.