Funding the Free Breakfast Program
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Members of Black Panther Party (BPP) set aside time to obtain funding to keep their free breakfast program going in the form of direct solicitation from community business members and selling copies of the party’s paper on busy city street. The Panthers published calls for donations for the program in their newspaper too. One found solicitations for the free breakfast program announced on public radio stations and published in black newspapers. BPP members also solicited funds for the program at rallies, and demonstrations. Cooperating pastors asked their congregations to give to the program. The Panthers regularly solicited donations directly from business owners in the communities where children received the free practices. The Panthers would boycott businesses who refuse to contribute to the free breakfast program.
