Backpack Ministry

Our Backpack Ministry has been very blessed to receive an anonymous donation of over $1,000 to be used to purchase food as well as Christmas gifts for each of our Backpack Kids. Thank God for the giving spirit of our donor. May God bless you!

We continue to pack two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, a bag of snacks as well as a fresh loaf of bread every week for every Backpack Kid. Thanks to everyone who has brought food, given money or has prayed for these children. Please continue to be in prayer for our Backpack Ministry.

For the month of November please bring hot cocoa mix packets.

by Helen Greene

Backpacking is going full speed ahead! Every Wednesday morning we are packing food for our “Backpack Kids” at Beckley Elementary School.

Thanks to each one of you who brings food, gives money or prays for our kids and this ministry.

For the month of October please bring small cans of chicken noodle soup for our kids.

Well it is back to school for our Backpack Kids. We have already started packing food for them to take home every weekend. As you may know, we pack two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, a loaf of bread and a bag of snacks for every child.

Please be in prayer for these children and for our Backpack Ministry. Thanks to everyone who prays for this ministry. Also, thanks to everyone who donates food or money. May God bless you!

For the month of September please bring small cans of tomato or chicken noodle soup.

by Helen Greene

Shopping, shopping and more shopping. That is what we are doing during the summer months to replenish our backpack pantry. Lots of canned meat, veggies and fruit are needed to fill the backpacks of our Backpack Kids.

We will need lots of volunteers to help with this project. If you are interested in helping please see me and I am sure I can find you a job! Thanks to everyone who has given food, money or prayers for this ministry. May God bless you!

For the summer months please continue to bring applesauce cups for our kids.

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.