Jennifer Hudson gave back to Chicago school children on Friday by distributing 2,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies.
The 38-year-old singer was joined by her activist sister Julia Hudson as they gave back to the community they were raised in.
The actress shared a short video of herself wearing a mask as she surveyed a socially distanced gathering to load the backpacks before distributing them to Chicago students in need.
Giving back: Jennifer Hudson, 38, celebrated Hatch Day, a back-to-school holiday in honor of her late nephew, by donating 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies with her sister Julia Hudson
Jennifer wore a powder blue shirt over a scarlet top and had a leopard print mask over her face, which she had to periodically lift over her nose because of its loose fit.
‘We’re still out there this Hatch Day, just in a different way. We’re going to hit these streets and sneak up on y’all. And we’re going to drive by with backpacks, because we don’t need crowds this year, but we will want to make sure we service the children,’ Jennifer explained to her followers.
‘We’re getting out there. Everybody is out here working, making it happen,’ she continued.
‘Drop your location, and we’re going to drop you a backpack and school supplies for what you need during this pandemic, because our kids still gotta go and grow to school. And we support that.’
Safety first: Jennifer wore a powder blue shirt over a scarlet top and had a leopard print mask over her face, which she had to periodically lift over her nose because of its loose fit
Not giving up: ‘We’re still out there this Hatch Day, just in a different way. We’re going to hit these streets and sneak up on y’all,’ she said
Helping hand: ‘We’re going to drive by with backpacks, because we don’t need crowds this year, but we will want to make sure we service the children,’ she wrote, along with photos of drop offs
‘My mama use to say “where there is a will , there is a way,”‘ Jennifer captioned her posted.
‘@juleyah definitely had the will to still find a way to service these kids on this “Hatch day” even during the pandemic , in the safest way possible ! Drop your location and be on the looking out thru out all the chicago areas and we will drop u a backpack and back to school needs ! Happy Hatch day yal !!!!’ she wrote.
Both Jennifer and Julia were celebrating Hatch Day, a back-to-school celebration that’s put on by the Julian D. King Foundation, in honor of Jennifer’s slain nephew, who was Julia’s son.
On October 24, 2008, Jennifer’s brother Jason Hudson and her mother Darnell Donerson were shot and killed by her sister Julia’s estranged husband William Balfour.
At first, Julian, who was seven, was reported missing and an AMBER alert was issued, but he was found dead of multiple gunshots in a parked car days later.
Balfour was arrested in December 2008 and eventually convicted and sentenced to serve three life terms plus 120 years.
In memoriam: Both Jennifer and Julia were celebrating Hatch Day, a back-to-school celebration that’s put on by the Julian D. King Foundation, in honor of Jennifer’s slain nephew, who was Julia’s son
Family tragedy: In October 2008, Jennifer’s brother and mother were murdered by her sister Julia’s estranged husband. Julia’s son Julian was later discovered shot to death in a parked car
Now Jennifer and Julia keep Julian’s memory alive by giving back to other children in need.
The foundation ‘was established to provide stability, support and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds to help enable them to grow to be productive, confident and happy adults,’ according to the Entertainment Industry Foundation‘s website.
On Saturday, Jennifer shared photos and videos from a birthday celebration for her sister, including a clip of her family singing an extended version of Happy Birthday to Julia.
‘Oh but we made it thru it all! Although it was very different this year with all that’s going on !’ she explained.
‘We went to @juleyah house and celebrated #Julian d.king bday , he woulda been 19 ! My munch made his cousin cake , which made it even more special ! On this Hatch day many kids in chicago was still blessed ! Happy heavenly birthday nephew !! We will always honor and uphold your memory ! Until next time guys ! P.s I been around these kids to long ! Haha.’
Making a difference: Jennifer and Julia created the Julian D. King Foundation to support Chicago-area school children in need
On Sunday, Jennifer paid tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, on the second anniversary of her death.
‘Something tells me that you are walking around heaven singing all day !’ she captioned a photo of the singer, who died in 2018 at age 76.
‘I know u got your mansion, far more than just standing room ! Singing in the heavenly choir ! Still Can’t believe we lost you 2 years ago today . I truly miss hearing from you !’
Jennifer already channel her passion for Aretha into the biopic Respect, in which she stars as the Natural Woman singer.
The film finished shooting in February, before the coronavirus pandemic swelled in the US, and it’s currently eyeing a January 2021 release date.
Icon: On Sunday, Jennifer paid tribute to Aretha Franklin on the second anniversary of her death. She’ll play the Queen of Soul in the upcoming biopic Respect, out January 2021