“This year has presented many unexpected challenges to our patients and families. Being able to provide them with food and nutritional support through BackPack Beginnings has helped lighten the burden these families are facing. We get to see firsthand the joy and overwhelming appreciation the families express when we provide them with a bag of food and we are grateful to be able to partner with you all in this.”
“He is always excited to go get his backpack and starts asking early Friday- ‘Is it time yet for my backpack?’ I know it is important to him.”
“God Bless you all for what you do and for helping me help our children here. I have seen a difference in behaviors on Fridays and Mondays—especially in the 7th and 8th grades where there are children who have not received relief prior to this year. All of them count on seeing the food deliveries on Friday, and when we miss someone, they come looking for us.”
“It makes me feel good and happy.”
“What a blessing the food is this summer! The mother of one of our scholarship campers started crying when her child received the weekend food. I don’t think we even realize how big of a struggle it is for some of our families to get food on the table every night. Families that appear to be “getting by.” So, thank you for this opportunity… not only from them, but from me. It is a blessing to be able to provide for them in this way.”
“It’s been a really neat project for us — in obvious ways, like curbing hunger, but all also in the more subtle ways, bringing our community closer together.”
“As the program chair, I see the overwhelming and persistent need for food pantries in our schools. Many families depend on them to get them through the weekend or the end of the month. Food deliveries to the schools are met with so much gratitude among the faculty, staff and children. These pantries provide and reduce the number of food deprived families in our community. The program is making a huge difference in meeting the hunger gaps in our community. In the coming years, I look forward to expanding and building on all of the efforts we have under way. The more we can make our community aware of the problem, the more capable are in reaching children and families in need. I’m so thankful to be a part of this organization and work with so many wonderful people to help families build a pathway to stability.”
“One of my students became more social after joining the program. She speaks out and has shown academic growth.”