Summer is over, and Louise Anderson, along with her husband, Jim, and their partners at King of Kings and St. Stephens Church, are gearing up for another school year by providing weekend food for many students at Lot Whitcomb Elementary School in Milwaukie.

Last year, Lot Whitcomb’s school enrollment was 433, with 61% of the children minorities. Through last year’s program, Backpack Buddies provided food for 95 students in grades 3 – 5, and the number  is growing. To fulfill our mission, we depend on donors and leveraging our purchasing power with distributors. But, as the  need increases, so do prices; and therein lies the challenge. Here’s an idea: Watch for bargains! Then buy a case or two  of food and deliver them to Oak Hills. We will provide you with a letter to claim a tax deduction. Hint: peanut butter (plastic jars only please), and canned chili is very popular.

Here at Oak Hills, we have a strong desire to do even more to enhance this program. This is an opportunity for us to educate, and that’s precisely what we’ll do in 2025. Included within the Backpack will be information to aid in  understanding the importance of nutrition for growing bodies, tips on best buys when grocery shopping as well  as easy, nutritious and inexpensive recipes. If there is an interest, we will also consider offering a time to “gather  and share” where we will hear from Backpack Buddy’s parents on ways they stretch their food budget, share their favorite recipes for kids, as well as identify their likes and dislikes and offer suggestions.

We are currently in the process of seeking support for this expanded BackPack Buddy ministry by submitting a grant to the Katherine Bisbee Fund Community Ministry Grants Program. Decisions on funding this program will be announced on November 15th; we’ll keep you posted.

If you would like to be included in Friends of BackpackBuddies e-list, please contact: 

Jim-Louise_Anderson@wycliffe.org or call 503-737-5298