by Joyce Mills
Around Raleigh County you’ll find many teachers who can tell you about a student who came to school on Monday not reluctant to start the school week, but eager to get back to school after going through Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday without a square meal – or knowledge of a source for their next meal.
Those children are the reason we started the Backpack Program. Other churches around the county picked up on the idea and now many children are having a much better weekend.
The Backpack Program is one that ensures that children in need have balanced, nutritious food they need to learn and grow. The concept is simple, children at risk of weekend hunger receive a backpack full of food that is child friendly, nutritious, nonperishable, and easy to prepare/eat. Each backpack offers enough food that children can easily assemble into six healthy meals with two snacks over the weekend when schools are unable to provide breakfasts and lunches.
I challenge you to think about a hungry child and how that must feel. Then, I challenge you to skip just one fast food meal and give $5.00 to help feed that hungry child. Become involved and help change the future for these children by helping them to thrive and know there’s a better way to live.
Thank you for the 150+ individual containers of applesauce you brought in January. Can we beat that number in February by bringing 16-18oz. jars of Peanut Butter? Plastic jars, of course! Please place on the back counter in the kitchen and on your way out CELEBRATE a little because it has been a great year with the Backpack Ministry.