How $8 Could Feed Every Hungry Child: A Thanksgiving Reflection From Spavia’s CEO
As we gather in gratitude this Thanksgiving season, I’ve been reflecting deeply on what makes Spavia so special. It isn’t just the experience we offer within our day spa. It’s not just the relaxing massage, the transformative facial, or the curated wellness treatments — but the people behind the experience.
Across all Spavia locations, our therapists, estheticians, guest advisors, and franchise owners live our mission daily: to make the world a better place, one guest at a time. This work is purposeful. It’s heartfelt. And it extends beyond the walls of our wellness spas into the communities we serve.
Today, I want to share a message of gratitude and a perspective on generosity that surprised even me.
Celebrating 20 Years of Purpose and Giving Back
This year marks Spavia’s 20th Anniversary, and we wanted to celebrate not just with spa services, but with impact. Because of guests who purchased our 20th Anniversary facial, we are donating:
$34,000 to Blessings in a Backpack
That translates into:
8,500 weekend backpacks filled with food for children across America.
These are children who may not know where their meals will come from once the school week ends. Your support made a direct, immediate difference.
Understanding the Reality: Child Hunger in America
In the U.S. today, 13.8 million children live in food-insecure households. But the burden is not evenly shared.
- About 1 in 10 U.S. children faces food insecurity.
- In immigrant-headed households, some studies show the number reaches 1 in 3.
These families face unique barriers: language access, transportation, limited benefits, and systemic challenges that make consistent nutrition harder to secure.
Child hunger is a human issue, not a political one — and it deserves solutions grounded in compassion and efficiency.
Why Nonprofits Outperform Government Systems
Blessings in a Backpack can feed a child for a full 36-week school year for just $175.
- $4 → funds one weekend backpack
- $175 → feeds one child for a school year
- $34,000 (Spavia donation) → 8,500 weekend meals
If every American donated just $8, we could feed every hungry child in America for the entire school year.
Meanwhile, a hypothetical $500 per person tax intended to solve the same problem would produce nowhere near the same efficiency. Government systems distribute funds across agencies, administrative layers, and competing priorities — diffusing impact.
In contrast, targeted nonprofits like Blessings in a Backpack use every donated dollar for a singular mission. The efficiency is unmatched.
The Power of Targeted Generosity
In the wellness industry, we talk often about intentional living — choosing what restores us, aligning action with values. Generosity is no different.
- $8 → could feed a hungry child for a weekend
- $175 → could feed them for a school year
- $2,415,000,000 → the total needed to feed all hungry children
- If each American gave $8, we’d surpass this number
Small, intentional acts — when multiplied — transform communities.
A Thanksgiving Message From Spavia’s Heart
To our guests: thank you. Your choice to support Spavia helped feed thousands of children this year.
To our teams: thank you for serving guests with purpose, professionalism, and heart. You embody who we are.
And to every family who contributed to this year’s donation: thank you for proving that we can make meaningful change together — not through massive taxation or complicated systems, but through accessible, intentional generosity.
From the entire Spavia family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving. May your season be filled with gratitude, connection, and wellness. And may we continue to spread kindness — one guest and one child at a time.