Backpacks For Kids
By: Sydney Hart, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 13, 2007
Imagine feeding over 200 kids every meal, every weekend for an entire school year and never meeting the those you're helping.That's exactly what a local church is doing in the metro area.
"A lot of them aren't getting 3 square meals a day, especially over the weekend," explains human service worker for the North Little Rock school district, Robert Toombs, about the students in the area.
That's when volunteers at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock stepped in.
"It was meant to feed the homeless children in central Arkansas both breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks for the weekend," explains volunteer Deanna Alguire.
It may seem like a simple gesture to some, but for a school district where counselors say over 95% of the student body is at poverty level, a back pack of food goes along way.
"Every Friday we're giving backpacks filled with nutritious snacks," adds human service worker, Angela Govan.
"When I come to school kids, Monday through Thursday, are asking are we getting backpacks, are we getting backpacks. Yeah, you'll get your backpack Friday," laughs Toomb.
That excitement wouldn't be possible without the giving hearts of volunteers.
"They pack them like an assembly line and set them out by school," explains Alguire.
Filling a backpack full of goodies is no simple task, these faithful servants work harder every week.
"We are about 250 kids every week right now, but every week that numbers increasing," adds Alguire.
And the fun's just beginning!
"We're thinking we'll be feeding close to 400-500 children before the school year ends," believes Alguire.
Deanna Alguire knew this ministry would blossom, but she never imagined the impact it would have on her, "Next to being a wife and a mother this ministry has given me purpose for my life."
So as long as there's a need volunteers will feed local children one backpack at a time.
"Hunger never ends. These kids are hungry. They don't have food at home, so we don't end," adds Alguire.
If you'd like to help with The Church at Rock Creek's backpack ministry click here .
