As we approach the coming holidays and our hopes of having a wonderful Christmas with my daughter, wife and brother-in-law in Philadelphia this year, we think that it is now the time to thank some of those who have made our weekend backpack program a success. First, we should start with St. John's of Baltimore City UMC and thank them, along with Grace United Methodist, ss Philip and James RC Church, Heart's Place Services, Maryland Food Bank and so many others who have helped make this dream a reality.
We started this program (mission) almost four years ago with only four backpacks being prepared for families that were homeless and attending Margaret Brent Elementary School and from that we now have programs in 11 schools throughout Baltimore City feeding a total of 300 people. What a wonderful sight it is to see smiling faces of children when we drive to a school in west Baltimore and meet with the Principals of these schools who welcome us warmly, or when we visit Northeast Baltimore or other schools that we are providing this service. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that they all agree that this service is needed and wanted, and in fact children approach them in the hallways of these schools and ask them whether they will receive a backpack of food this weekend. These children will have most likely not eaten over the weekend so this backpack represents something that guarantees food over the weekend.
We need to do better than what we have previously accomplished and we need to do it soon. Children are depending on us to survive the weekends. We can only do this with your help and your understanding that all of the volunteers do not get paid in any way for the work they are accomplishing and are doing this so that children can eat. We are not supported financially by any vast foundation, although we have tried to get funding, but we still manage to get some funds by attending festivals, writing letters, sending out material explaining our program. Many have been very generous and have come forward and assisted our program, but the need is greater in that if you feed only 100 families over the weekend (each theoretically being made up of two children and one adult) you leave approximately 2,500 left without food. This year our program cost us all collectively $100,000. but our goal is $2,700,000. We can and must accomplish our goal.
Each backpack approximates $18.00 and provides the necessary food for a family of three over the weekend, which by anyone's calculations is a bargain. It does not require refrigeration or heating and apparently is enjoyed by the children who receive it. I don't think that you can really get good quality food at these prices, but with the leverage of the Maryland Food Bank, they have reduced our cost factor in purchasing the product and made it possible for us to feed more in need in Baltimore.
We must do better this year to ensure that the families left who want to eat over the weekend can be fed. We need you all to assist us in this venture to make sure that all of Baltimore's children are fed each and every weekend. Our government is working to feed the children during the week and now it is our time for those who can to come forward and feed these wonderful children over the weekend. Support this program by donating to Heart's Place Services, Inc., 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 - marking your check "weekend backpack program", or go to our web site and make a donation through pay pal, it will make your holiday more meaningful knowing that a child will have food this weekend. Thank you.
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