In 2008, Jeanne Irwin-Olson was driving and listening to NPR, when she heard a story about a backpack program in Winston Salem. She listened to the facts and statistics about childhood hunger and she knew that this was something with which she wanted to be involved. Jeanne immediately called the program and they put her in touch with Parker White, someone they knew was trying to get a program started in Greensboro. The day she talked to Parker, she became BackPack Beginnings’ first volunteer.
In those first few months, she helped Parker pack bags and deliver them to five sites. Though she is no longer on the “front lines,” Jeanne is always thinking about what BackPack Beginnings may need and is constantly on the lookout for possible donations and sponsors. Recently, she contacted her own dentist and convinced them to donate toothbrushes and toothpaste to be included in the food bags going out in February.
Jeanne believes her participation with BackPack Beginnings will never be over, because she believes so passionately about helping kids in need. It has been three years since she heard that NPR story and she is still not over the shock that so many kids are going hungry. She is proud to be a part of BackPack Beginnings and continually strives to make people be aware of the shocking statistics of children’s hunger in Greensboro. “Anything I can do to keep even one kid from being hungry over the weekend is worth it.”
Written on 3/18/2013 by Blogger Thea DeLoreto[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
