For the sixth straight year, The Wooster Hope Center will be expanding their backpack of food program for local elementary schools throughout Wayne County, said Pastor Richard Frazier, who serves as the organization’s executive director. Because the program is expanding, more volunteers are needed, and Frazier said he would like to hear from people looking to help the students by Aug. 1.
The backpack of food program had been serving all of Wooster City School District’s elementary schools, along with Rittman Elementary School. Then it continued to expand into other school districts. Each student who participated received a bag of nonperishable food every other Friday throughout the school year to take home for the weekend. However, Frazier said this year students will receive food every Friday instead, effectively doubling the amount of food received during the school year.
“We will be serving 11 Wayne County elementary schools every week during the 2018-2019 school year,” Frazier told supporters in an email. “Our goal this year is to provide over 1,300 bags of food monthly to Wayne County school students!”
But, as the program grows, so, too, does the need for volunteers. The Wooster Hope Center is looking for volunteers to assist with the backpack of food program for an hour on Fridays (either late morning or early afternoon) during the upcoming school year.
The elementary schools participating in the program include Cornerstone, Parkview, Kean, Melrose, Apple Creek, Holmesville, Fredericksburg, Mount Eaton, Norwayne, Green and Rittman.
This program is a result of collaboration among the Wooster Hope Center, Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, Wooster City Schools, The College of Wooster’s Volunteer Network, Kohl’s department store, DayBreak Community Church and the Wooster Church of the Nazarene.
“If you are interested in helping our local children have food to take home on the weekends, please email me back by August 1,” Frazier said in his email blast. “Thank you for helping us fight hunger at a greater more efficient rate in Wayne County. Together we are the means to make a difference!!”
Any person or organization interested in assisting with the program can contact Frazier rfrazier@woosterhopecenter.org.
The Wooster Hope Center operates the Greater Wayne County Food Pantry, where food is distributed Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays each week to families who are living at 200 percent of the federal poverty level. It also offers a hygiene pantry and free haircuts.