Backpack Ministry

School is finally over for this term. At the end of this year we were serving 26 children. We  pray they will have adequate food this summer. Our Backpack Ministry could not function without our reliable volunteers. Each one has played a valuable part in this ministry. If you are wondering who they are here is a list: Jeff Oakland, Darrel Yurkovich, Ken & Margaret Dilley, Richard and Janice Wood, Charlotte Hutchens, Connie Neal, Nancy Moran, Debbie Quinn, Dave & Linda Allport, Nancy Hall, Mike & Patty Atterson, Linda Ramsey, Mary Stover, Debbie Vanaman, Gordon & Mary Gregory, Johnny, Helen & Tim Greene. Thanks to each one of you! Please continue to pray for our Backpack Kids.

.For the month of June please bring individual applesauce cups.

There is only one more month of school left for this year. I am sure all the children will be happy to have a summer break. We all need to be praying that the Backpack Kids will have adequate food during the summer.

During the school break our Backpack Ministry volunteers will be shopping for food to restock our food closet. We rely on the Mountaineer Food Bank for some of our food and find bargains at local stores. We also rely on your donations of food and cash to keep our ministry going. Thanks to each of you for your contributions and prayers.

For the month of May, please bring pudding cups.

Several people had mentioned to me that we could apply for a Grant from The Beckley Area Foundation to provide money to help purchase food for our Backpack Ministry. Last September Debbie Vanaman and I attended an informational meeting at the BAF office to learn the requirements for applying. With help from Debbie I applied for an $800.00 Grant.

In March I was notified we will indeed receive $800.00 from The Beckley Area Foundation. What a wonderful blessing! Many thanks to The Beckley Area Foundation for your kind gift. It will go a long way in helping buy food for our Backpack Kids.

We are currently packing food weekly for 23 children at Beckley Elementary School. Each backpack includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, a loaf of fresh bread and a bag of snacks.

Please continue to pray for our Backpack Ministry and the children it serves. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and contributions.

For the month of April please bring cans of corn, peas or carrots.

by Helen Greene

Hurry up Spring! Most of us are thinking this phrase. I am sure our Backpack Kids are as anxious as we are for warmer weather.   In about three months school will be out. We have had a successful year and have provided food for 22 children every week. Our volunteers have been doing a great job.

Please continue to pray for our Backpack Kids to have full tummies and happy lives.  For the month of March please bring canned soup for our backpacks. Any flavor will be fine.  May God bless each one of you who has helped this ministry in any way. 

by Helen Greene

February is thought of as a month of love. I think of our backpack kids and wonder if they are loved as all children should be. I certainly hope they are.

God’s love causes us to care about others especially children. God has blessed our Backpack Ministry. He blesses us through your donations of food and money. He blesses us with willing volunteers who give their time to pack and deliver the food. He blesses us when he hears our prayers for these children.

May God bless each of you for your help making this ministry possible. If you feel led, we could also use your help packing these backpacks. We usually meet on Wednesday morning’s and it only takes about an hour or so. Please see Helen if you can lend a hand.

Please donate cans of pasta with meat for the month of February.

by Helen Greene

All the Christmas rush has passed and we can relax a little.

With the help of lots of shoppers, we purchased Christmas gifts for 23 children.  Every shopper did a great job finding items on each child’s wish list at the lowest prices.  Doc and Jeff delivered everything to Beckley Elementary so that the parents or guardians of the kids could take the gifts home for the children’s Christmas.

Many thanks go to everyone who helped with this project.  Thanks also to everyone who has donated food or money.

Please continue to pray for our Backpack Ministry and the children we are serving.

For the month of January please bring plastic jars of peanut butter.

by Helen Greene

With Thanksgiving passed and Christmas coming up we are ready to start plans for Christmas shopping for our Backpack Kids.  We receive a wish list for each child and try to purchase some of the items they request.  Almost every child asks for some clothing, shirts, pants, socks, underwear, etc.   With the $50.00 limit everyone shops for the best bargains.  If you would like to be a shopper for the Backpack Kids just contact me.  The $50.00 will be provided for you as well as the child’s name and wish list.

Thanks to each of you that has donated food or money for our Backpack Ministry.  May God bless you!

For the month of December please bring cans of pinto beans for our pantry. Donations can be left on the back counter in the kitchen.

by Helen Greene

With another month of backpacking passed we prepare for November and colder weather.  We always try to make sure our Backpack Kids get their food when “Snow Days” threaten.  Also we pack more food for long holiday weekends.  Our Backpack team members are dedicated to this ministry and are always willing to adjust their schedules to make sure our children get their backpacks full of food every week.

Thanks to each one of you who has supported this ministry by bringing food, donating money and praying for our children.  God bless you!

For the month of November please bring canned vegetables for the backpacks.  You may leave them on the back counter in the kitchen.

by Helen Greene

On September 22 I attended the American Baptist Women’s Ministries Fall Rally.  The theme was Hunger Action Month.  We all learned of the different ways churches are serving those facing hunger.  It was interesting to see the diverse groups each church targets. The offering that was taken was combined with a $200.00 donation from American Baptist Women then divided among the five ministries represented.  Our backpack ministry was given $83.00.  We are very grateful for the donation.

I was approached by Mr. Wood, the former Vice-Principal of Beckley Elementary, as I was leaving the meeting.  He was our “Sound Man” for the event.  He told me that he observed our Backpack Kids on Friday afternoons when they came to the office to get their backpacks.  He said he could see them smiling and happy when they got their food.  He said “The kids will forget almost anything but they did not forget their backpacks on Friday”.

For the month of October, we will be collecting granola bars.  Donations can be left on the back counter in the kitchen.

Thanks to each one of you who has supported our Backpack Ministry in any way. May God Bless You!

by Helen Greene

Back To School!  Not what students want to hear at the end of summer vacation.

Our backpack team has been shopping all summer for bargains and we have purchased food from the Mountaineer Food Bank.  Our pantry is full and we are ready to deliver backpacks full of food to our students at Beckley Elementary School.

Please pray for our Backpack Kids to have a successful school year and they will not suffer from hunger when they are home.

For the month of September we will be collecting 15-16 oz. cans of vegetables.  Donations can be left on the back counter in the kitchen.

Thanks to each one of you who has supported our Backpack Ministry in any way.  May God Bless You!