Backpack Blessings Provides 8800-Plus Meals for Kids
Trinity Church’s mission is Inviting, Inspiring, and Serving Christ in ALL people. One of the ways we do this is through our community outreach programs. Backpack blessings is a critical program that provides food to underserved students at Deep Run Elementary School (DRES).
During the first full year of our Backpack Blessings program Trinity provided more than 8800 meals during the 2016-17 school year for 40 students at Deep Run Elementary School. While the need for meals has remained about the same since 2016, we have noticed a slight increase for the 2025-2026 school year – Trinity now supports 45 school children each week. “Credit for the huge success of Backpack Blessings goes to all those both inside and outside Trinity who have donated food and dollars for the program and to everyone who has volunteered to stack, pack and deliver the food to Deep Run,” says then Rector Anne Coghill MacNabb.
Calling Trinity “the little church with a big heart,” Carolyn Wohnsigl, DRES School Counselor and Backpack Blessings coordinator for DRES, has high praise for Trinity’s efforts. She says, “The food for families comes from the hard work, generosity, consistency and discipline of your congregation. In the worst kinds of weather, no matter what else is happening, you bring food to our families – every week.” She adds, “Friday mornings are joyful here in our student services office. Children “Ooh” and “Aah” over the treats as they load their backpacks.” She notes that the “ability to help our families meet their most basic needs frees our students and our staff from that worry – so that we are available to teach and (the students) to learn.”
Want to help? You can help in three ways!
- Add to your grocery list one or more of the food items below. Drop off food items in the red wagon inside of church.
- Join the delivery team and sign up to deliver dozens of full bags to the school on Thursday mornings. Sign up for one or multiple weeks!
- Help support financially via donation – please include “backpack” in the memo line of checks so we can align your donation to the appropriate program. Or donate on our website here.
Food and dollar donations continue to be needed over the summer even while school is not in session so that Backpack Blessings can hit the ground running when school starts again on September. During the school year we are always in need of any of the food items below. Please bring them to church and leave them in the little red wagon near the front entrance.
Backpack Blessings Grocery List
Most requested food items:
- Individual oatmeal packs
- Shelf-Stable white milk (single serving size)
- Canned tuna or chicken
Other needed food items:
- Individual Cereal Boxes or Cups
- Hearty Soup (Canned Soups Preferred, like Chicken Noodle or Beef Vegetable)
- Ramen Noodle Soup (Chicken Flavor) (Low Sodium Preferred)
- Mac N Cheese (Individual Cups)
- Goldfish or Cheez-It Cheddar cracker snack packs
- Applesauce in plastic pouches (GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce or Mott’s)
- Granola Bars (NO NUTS OF ANY KIND)
- Fruit Bars (NO NUTS)
- Microwave Popcorn
- Individual Bags of Chips or Similar Snacks
- Individual 100% Fruit Juice Boxes or Plastic Bottles
For canned goods, pop-top lids are preferred, if possible, to make it easier for the students to prepare the food on their own. Please ensure donated items do not contain nuts of any kind or peanut butter due to allergies at the school.