P A G E 5 |
Back-Packs |
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“ Sometimes it’ s the small, silent steps that contribute in big ways.” |
By Lynn Butterbrodt Associate Pastor, St. John’ s UCC
A rather quiet, but involved, ministry happened weekly at St. John’ s beginning in December and lasting through the North Cedar school year. Our church was one of the two assembly sites for the North Cedar backpack program, a program initiated by NC’ s elementary principal, Jerry Johnson, in cooperation with HACAP, North Cedar Clergy participating churches, and dedicated community members.
The program involves assembling backpacks filled with kid-friendly food items to supplement meals on weekends. Food is provided through HA- CAP, picked up and delivered by volunteers to the two assembly sites. Volunteers pack the backpacks that have been donated. The filled bags are delivered to the NC elementary schools and sent
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home on Fridays. Empty backpacks are returned to the school on the following Monday, to be reused the next week.
St. John’ s is the packing site for the Lowden Elementary. Volunteers representing all of the churches in Clarence and Lowden have given their time to make this mission a reality. The volunteers are retired teachers and school employees, who rotate on a weekly basis. They’ re efficient and friendly packers, with generous spirits.
We are thankful for all the efforts shown in the organizing, packing, and delivering of the bags. Several sizeable donations have been received for the program, in addition to the time involved. The backpacks themselves were donated, and the cash that’ s been received is forwarded to HACAP to keep the
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program in operation. Each dollar received converts to $ 13 in food with the buying power that HA- CAP provides.
The ultimate goal is to improve learning in the school. Hunger affects the ability to learn. We are not solving the problem of hunger, but this backpack program is working to eliminate the problem of Monday morning hunger as the learning week begins.
Sometimes it’ s the small, silent steps that contribute in big ways. Thank you to everyone involved in the program. If you have questions, or if you’ re interested in making a donation to this program, please contact Jerry Johnson, Dave Mears, or me.
Have a great summer and we’ ll resume this program when school starts.
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