Donations and volunteers are needed as five organizations are again partnering to make sure Fannin County children in need have a meal this summer.
Faith Presbyterian Church, Fannin County Family Connection, Snack in a Backpack, Feed Fannin, and St. Luke’s Anglican Episcopal Church are combining forces for the Summer Meal Program.
“The goal of the 2023 Summer Meal Program is to provide healthy, nutritious meals,” to the children who need them, Debby Beck, Snack in a Backpack executive director said.
“A large percentage of the children in Fannin County are eligible for free and reduced cost meals during the school year, which are not available during summer break,” Beck said.
More than 44,000 meals were provided last year through the summer program that has grown every year.
The estimated cost for the full, eight week program is $20,000, Beck said.
“We will be providing over 600 children’s meal bags and 175 family meal deliveries each week during the eight week summer break period,” Beck said. Deliveries will begin June 1 and continue through July 20.
Volunteers are needed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings to help pack the bags and for loading and deliveries Thursday.
Deliveries will be made to more than 13 specific locations between 11 a.m. and noon.
Zac Meaders, one of the program’s many volunteer leaders, said, “There’s no greater privilege than to serve the children in our community. It’s an honor to be involved in an organization that does exactly that.”
To volunteer, email backpackfanoffice@gmail.com.
To donate, visit Snackinabackpack.org and click on News & Events 2023 - Summer Meal Program.
For additional information, contact any of the following: Fannin County Family Connection, 706-632-6063, amandahyde@etcmail.com; Faith Presbyterian Church, 706-374-5912, office@faithpresbyterianusa.org; or Snack In A Backpack, 706-851-8174, backpackfannin@gmail.com.