The backpack program began in the middle of the 2016-2017 school year as a collaborative effort between Pastor Kerry Aucker of The New Love Center Food Pantry and Phelps Chapel United Methodist Church. It was created to address the increasing problem of school kids not having enough to eat especially on the weekends.
Each student who signs up will initially receive a backpack filled with foods such as peanut butter, granola bars, juice, tuna fish or chicken salad and fruit cups. Then weekly, usually on a Thursday or Friday, each student will receive a bag of the same type of foods to take home with them.
The program began with 32 students signed up from three elementary schools. This school year (2017-2018) it expanded to include the middle school and we now have 171 students signed up who receive the backpacks.
Please pray for these students that they are nourished both physically and spiritually and for the backpack program that it will continue as long as it is needed.
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