Blessings in a Backpack

New Donation Format

To better track Trinity’s weekly Blessings in a Backpack donations and ensure that each of the 25 families receives a healthy mix of food, donations will now be tracked using Google Docs. A printed chart will also be available each Sunday (in the piazza, next to the shopping cart). Either at church or online please fill in the items you pledge to bring the following week. Fill in your name once or several times depending on how many items you are able to bring. There will be a new chart each week with the menu. Thank you for your assistance as the new system will be helpful for the success of the program. Questions? Contact Gwen Stembridge at gstembridge@dohio.org or 216-774-0417. Click here to access the Google Doc form.

In January, Trinity launched its participation in Blessings in a Backpack, a national
program designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for
federally-funded free or reduced fee lunch programs. These students often have
little or no food on the weekends.

Trinity’s program benefits students at the nearby Marion-Sterling Elementary
School, where Principal Sondra Powers has listed hunger among her major challenges.

The situation for some students at Marion-Sterling is so dire, that students hoard food. Children stuff their pockets with the federally-funded free breakfast and lunch offerings so that they and their families have something to eat during the weekend. In addition to the problem of hunger, many of these families face health issues such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The Blessings in a Backpack program addresses both the hunger and health issues.

On Sundays, volunteers gather at Trinity to collect the week’s donations. Oatmeal, whole wheat bread, spaghetti, chopped tomatoes, tuna and apples are just some of the items on the program’s shopping list. On Friday afternoons, volunteers work to assemble backpacks filled with enough healthy food to feed a family of four, menus and nutritional information to promote health and wellness. Students take the backpacks home on Fridays, and return them on Mondays to be refilled.

When school is not in session, parents pick up the backpacks at the church.

Please help sustain this vital ministry.