Blessings in a Backpack receives $31,000 donation from Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats

Blessings in a Backpack SWFL recently received two generous donations from Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats that will help provide weekend meals to close to 200 school children in Lee and Collier Counties. The Cape Coral boat manufacturer donated a total of $31,000 from two separate philanthropic endeavors.

As part of the company’s 30th anniversary celebration, Nor-Tech showed its love for and commitment to the Southwest Florida community by raising $80,000 for local charities. The $80,000 was evenly divided among four nonprofits. Blessings in a Backpack was fortunate to be selected as one of the four to receive the donation. An additional $11,000 was raised for Blessings as Nor-Tech’s first-ever “Charity of the Month.”

“We are so fortunate to have businesses in our area that care enough to help,” said Cecilia St. Arnold, Blessings in a Backpack managing director. “It’s companies like Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats that help Blessings fulfill our mission of taking care of our youth. We’re honored Nor-Tech selected us as one of their charities.”

Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats was started by two friends from Norway, Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen, who spent their childhood in the 1970s running around boatyards in Norway dreaming of fast cars and boats. After moving to Florida, they opened their business in Cape Coral in 1990. Nor-Tech now employs 155 people and has a 55,000 square feet production facility in Cape Coral.

The funds from Nor-Tech will help feed 250 children at J. Colin English Elementary School in North Fort Myers in the upcoming school year.

“This donation is not for Blessings in a Backpack; it’s for our children who aren’t always sure where their next meal will come from, it’s to help reduce the worry and strain of the parents and family, and it’s for the betterment of our community,” added St. Arnold. “We can provide this assistance because of the help and participation we receive from the wonderful local businesses located in our communities.”

It only takes $115 to provide meals for 36 weekends for one school-age child. This past school year, Blessings was able to feed 5,300 children. Their goal for the upcoming year is to provide weekend meals for 6,000 children.