Weekend Backpack Program

2022 Cooperative Response Grant Recipient | Gray Summit UMC | Gray Summit, MO

Since 2009, Gray Summit UMC in Gray Summit has been mobilizing its community to provide food for the weekend for school-aged children through the Backpack Food Program. With the help of volunteers and church partners, the program is serving 216 students in the 2022-2023 school year. Their partnerships across denominations and community organizations are a great example of the ministries Festival of Sharing hopes to support through the Cooperative Response Grant.

Patricia Clark, a member at Gray Summit UMC, helps lead the backpack program. Her passion for ending childhood hunger and ensuring children have the nutrition they need inspired the creation of this ministry outreach. In its 14 years, the ministry has grown from serving 20 students in one school to over 200 students in 5 schools across two districts. Each week the backpacks are packed by volunteers with snacks and food such as canned chicken breast, cereal, applesauce, oatmeal, juice boxes and more that are shelf-stable, easy for children to prepare, and not too heavy. The backpacks are then delivered to the school and sent home over the weekend.

Festival of Sharing is honored to partner with Gray Summit through a 2022 Cooperative Response Grant. If you have an ecumenical ministry project around hunger or poverty, consider applying for a 2023 Cooperative Response Grant. Find out more here.