Monday, April 1: Backpack Buddies Food Drive Begins

[Laura Dely]

Hello Friends:

  The day after Easter, Mon. April 1, is the first day of the Community Service Project's BACKPACK BUDDIES FOOD COLLECTION DRIVE. This will be a two-month effort to gather as much as we can to help AFAC supply Arlington Public Schools Homeless children with weekend and holiday food supplies.
 APS estimates that there are about 300 such children enrolled at this time.  It is believed that none are living on the streets, but are either in transitional housing (if they are lucky) or sleeping on family friends' or relatives couches, or are in a family shelter. No matter what the form of homelessness, these students often eat only once a day -- school lunch, but when school is out, they might not eat at all.

So please consider copying and printing out the list below to take with you each time you go shopping.  You may drop your contributions at anytime outside the Brethren Church Main Entrance.  Or if you might be able to collect the specific items at your church or condo association or wherever, please let me (Laura) know, and we'll help promote your collection.  The Food Collection Drive continues through June 22, when we will have a Children's Service Project that day where kids and their parents will bag the contents of one Backpack Buddies weekend supplies.

But first we must build up a giant supply of these items (only):

Backpack Buddies Shopping List (April 1 – June 22) Drop-off at the Brethren Church any time Low Sugar Cereals Bowls/Boxes Single-serve Oatmeal packets Single-serve Milk Boxes (shelf stable) Single Serve Healthy Snacks (e.g. Granola Bars, Pretzels, Goldfish Crackers) 100% Fruit Juice Boxes Single-serve Macaroni and Cheese boxes Pop Top Microwaveable meals (e.g. Canned Soup, Stew, Chili) Single Serve Healthy Snacks (e.g. Granola Bars, Pretzels, Goldfish Crackers) Canned Vegetables & Fruits (low sugar)   A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

So come on and help get the Backpack Buddies well supplied this Spring.  AFAC says it may expand the program to cover the summer vacation too so our effort will be right on time..

Best -
Laura
P.S. We are also busy planning our May 18 Yard Sale to benefit AFAC.  If you want a table, you must reserve one online.