A new school year is almost here.  We who volunteer with the St. Helens. School District Weekend Food Backpack program (begun in 2012) and that the need for weekend food has not gone away for so many children. 

This past year we had 200 students who signed up for the program.  Cash donations and volunteers are the keys to our program’s success.  Your cash donations allow us to buy our food items in bulk, greatly reducing the cost.   Even still, rising food costs hit us hard this past year.  We were only able to provide the minimum food items for each bag: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and 1 drink.

Though our food buyers are constantly in search of the lowest prices and buy in bulk, it will cost approximately $44,800 to supply the most basic food needs for the anticipated 200 children for the coming year.   Currently we have a little over $8,000 to start the new year.  Never has it been so important to have your support for our vulnerable young people as it is this year. 

And if you are wondering if the program really helps?  As volunteers we never see the names of the children being helped, but occasionally someone – often now a young adult – will tell us what a difference it made to them as they were growing up.  The bags literally meant they had something to eat on the weekends!

Can you help?  Do you know others who might help?  Your donation could make the difference of whether we are able to continue operating the Backpack program this year! 

The St. Helens Program is a local partnership agency with the Columbia Pacific Food Bank and St. Helens First United Methodist Church, 501c3 non-profit organizations.  All donations are tax-deductible.  You will receive a donation receipt.  The actual buying of the food, filling of bags, and distribution of the food bags to the schools is done by many volunteers, including the Lions Club,  other churches, civic organizations, businesses and individuals.

Enclosed you will find an envelope for your convenience in making a donation.  Checks can be made out to SHSD Backpack Program (St. Helens School District Backpack Program), 560 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR  97051. 

 Thank you in advance for your generosity.  Together we will feed our kids.

                                                                                    Fund Raising Chairperson Judy (Japs) Parmley                                                                                                                         jparmley888@aol.com