Help us fill backpacks each weekend with food.
Saturday
Stomp Out Hunger
Welcome to our first informational post about Food on Fridays a Back Pack Program.
This ministry actually began in May of 2009 when we hosted our first Family Food Fest for a local elementary school. As the families came to get boxes of food and baby items including diapers and wipes we became aware of the huge need that existed in the area.
As a ministry that already provdes a food pantry for teenagers on parole in Tarrant County we began brainstorming and praying about how we could help fill the needs of the Elementary School. The need in the area was so huge in fact in May of 2009 80% of the 680 children enrolled in the school were on the free or reduced lunch program.
Knowing that our resources were limited and understanding that the need was so huge we realized that it just wasn't the right time to begin a Backpack Program. As we began to ponder this need and how we could manage to incorporate a program we realized that there was probably a need in other areas. We began thinking about the locations that were close to our ministry that might also need help.
Through research we found a smaller school with a smaller need. A need that we could handle easily. While providing food to a smaller group of children and their families we would be able to "get our feet wet" and figure out how to manage the program on a smaller scale.
So in August of 2009 we began our first backpack program to 20 children. Within the first month 4 more were added. Throughout the 2009-2010 school year we were able to help 28-30 different children.
As a ministry that provides not only food for youth on parole we also provide Community Service projects and chapel services to the male youth at McFadden Ranch. The backpack program was a perfect project for the boys.
And so, beginning in August every Wednesday we took the necessary supplies to the ranch for the boys to fill the backpacks. This program was an eye opener for many of the boys. They were excited to see the amount of food we were able to put into the bags. I remembering hearing them say over and over "Wow we are really hookin' up these kids!"
As they filled the bags with juice, milk, soup, cereal bars and candy (their favorite part because they always had to 'test' the candy) they were able to earn Community Service hours but the best part for them was truly helping others.
For the holidays we partnered with the staff, The McFadden Community Advisory Committee and the youth at McFadden to provide complete Christmas and Thanksgiving meals for 12 of the families.
It was bittersweet as we finished our last week with our pilot school. But the positive is they are continuing the program through their own resources. The best part is we learned alot from this year.
We learned more about ordering quantities from the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
We learned to be prepared to deliver backpacks early in case of weather related closings.
We learned kids will forget to bring back their bags. (knap sacks which go inside their personal backpacks)
We learned we are ready to take on a larger amount of children and provide them with food to help them through the weekend . . .
And, with your help we can serve the children at our target school for the 2010-2011 school year. We hope that you will visit this site often. As you maneuver our postings and our pages you'll find stories about our program. You'll find info. about how you can help. You'll find info. about special events for the kids like Breakfast with the Stars and Monthly Birthday Parties sponsored by local churches and hosted by our girls from Willoughby House (a Texas Youth Commission Halfway house for girls 15-17).
To ensure the privacy of our clients we will only post stock photo's. And, the location of our school is not published. If you would like more info. please send us an email. You can also go to the Auto Mission (click on the bold letters for a direct link)website for more information. On a sidebar you will also see an option to sign up to be on our direct mailing list and email list and to become a financial partner of Food on Fridays.
Thank you for visiting and thank you for your support
This ministry actually began in May of 2009 when we hosted our first Family Food Fest for a local elementary school. As the families came to get boxes of food and baby items including diapers and wipes we became aware of the huge need that existed in the area.
As a ministry that already provdes a food pantry for teenagers on parole in Tarrant County we began brainstorming and praying about how we could help fill the needs of the Elementary School. The need in the area was so huge in fact in May of 2009 80% of the 680 children enrolled in the school were on the free or reduced lunch program.
Knowing that our resources were limited and understanding that the need was so huge we realized that it just wasn't the right time to begin a Backpack Program. As we began to ponder this need and how we could manage to incorporate a program we realized that there was probably a need in other areas. We began thinking about the locations that were close to our ministry that might also need help.
Through research we found a smaller school with a smaller need. A need that we could handle easily. While providing food to a smaller group of children and their families we would be able to "get our feet wet" and figure out how to manage the program on a smaller scale.
So in August of 2009 we began our first backpack program to 20 children. Within the first month 4 more were added. Throughout the 2009-2010 school year we were able to help 28-30 different children.
As a ministry that provides not only food for youth on parole we also provide Community Service projects and chapel services to the male youth at McFadden Ranch. The backpack program was a perfect project for the boys.
And so, beginning in August every Wednesday we took the necessary supplies to the ranch for the boys to fill the backpacks. This program was an eye opener for many of the boys. They were excited to see the amount of food we were able to put into the bags. I remembering hearing them say over and over "Wow we are really hookin' up these kids!"
As they filled the bags with juice, milk, soup, cereal bars and candy (their favorite part because they always had to 'test' the candy) they were able to earn Community Service hours but the best part for them was truly helping others.
For the holidays we partnered with the staff, The McFadden Community Advisory Committee and the youth at McFadden to provide complete Christmas and Thanksgiving meals for 12 of the families.
It was bittersweet as we finished our last week with our pilot school. But the positive is they are continuing the program through their own resources. The best part is we learned alot from this year.
We learned more about ordering quantities from the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
We learned to be prepared to deliver backpacks early in case of weather related closings.
We learned kids will forget to bring back their bags. (knap sacks which go inside their personal backpacks)
We learned we are ready to take on a larger amount of children and provide them with food to help them through the weekend . . .
And, with your help we can serve the children at our target school for the 2010-2011 school year. We hope that you will visit this site often. As you maneuver our postings and our pages you'll find stories about our program. You'll find info. about how you can help. You'll find info. about special events for the kids like Breakfast with the Stars and Monthly Birthday Parties sponsored by local churches and hosted by our girls from Willoughby House (a Texas Youth Commission Halfway house for girls 15-17).
To ensure the privacy of our clients we will only post stock photo's. And, the location of our school is not published. If you would like more info. please send us an email. You can also go to the Auto Mission (click on the bold letters for a direct link)website for more information. On a sidebar you will also see an option to sign up to be on our direct mailing list and email list and to become a financial partner of Food on Fridays.
Thank you for visiting and thank you for your support
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