On Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. a group of men are busy filling backpacks with food. They are the Backpack for Kids (B4K) volunteers.
More than a decade ago, Gerald Karnes and the men’s group at the Houlton United Methodist Church noticed that many children were suffering from hunger and started this program to reduce child hunger in the community.
Currently, the volunteers deliver 30 to 40 food backpacks weekly to local schools, including Aroostook County Action Program, Houlton Elementary, Houlton Southside, Houlton High School and Hodgdon Mill Pond School.
(Courtesy of Rev. Victor Han/Houlton United Methodist Church)
The program offers families groceries for weekends. Book backpacks include healthy food for kid-friendly meals like cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, boxed juice or canned soup.
As an African proverb says, it takes a community to end child hunger. B4K is going strong thanks to the generosity of the community, church officials said.. In particular, local grocery stores, Houlton Rotary Club, Houlton Regional Hospital and Littleton Baptist Church, along with individual donors, have supported the program.
Volunteers include Dawn Matthews and her students at Summit Academy.
Those who would like a food backpack should contact their local school.
The program is always accepted helpers to volunteer their time, donate food or give monetary gifts. Contact B4K coordinators Linda Maraya and Chet Husted at 227-3497.
