Backpack Impact

We partner with the Wentzville School District and Operation Food Search to supply weekend meals for local school children. We started a partnership between Morning Star and our neighbor, Prairie View Elementary with 28 kids about 9 years ago. Today, we partner with 6 schools including Prairie View, Barfield Early Education, Discovery Ridge, Lakeview, Frontier Middle and Liberty High and over 200 kids per week. We are passionate about helping eliminate hunger for these local kids. We want to show them that they are loved and we care.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO GETS FOOD?

The kids that we pack for are identified as food challenged by the counselors at each school. These are children who may not have enough to eat at home on the weekends when not attending school. The counselor reaches out to the family and they can “opt in” to the Backpack Impact Program offered by Morning Star. We started a partnership between Morning Star and our neighbor, Prairie View Elementary with 28 kids about 9 years ago. Today, we partner with 6 schools including Prairie View, Barfield Early Education, Discovery Ridge, Lakeview, Frontier Middle and Liberty High and over 200 kids per week.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM? CAN MY KIDS HELP?

Welcome one and all. We welcome teenagers, grandparents, super singles, moms and dads, tall people, short people, and all the in between people. Come along and bring your family. Contact Lori Carballo here for a schedule of packing dates and get signed up for the group email list. You can help once a month, twice a month or whenever your schedule allows. We can tell you what we need and you can jump in when you can. Typically, we pack every other week during the school year, usually on Wednesday nights. We also occasionally need volunteers to sort food, check expiration dates, and shelve donations. We want everyone who wants to be involved to be given that opportunity. You are welcome.
Email Lori Carballo

MY SMALL GROUP, NEIGHBOR GROUP, SCOUT GROUP, ANY GROUP WANTS TO HELP.

Great! We love all groups. Your group can pack once a quarter together as a group. Your group can decide to supply a needed item on our list for a specific amount of time. For instance, I had a group that donated 100 juice boxes a month for the school year. Your group may want to organize a food drive and donate the food to our cause. Whatever you want to do, we can work with you. Just let Lori know and she can get your information and give you ideas or specifics for needed items. 
HOW CAN I DONATE TO BACKPACK IMPACT?
The list of acceptable food donations is fairly specific and here is why. The food is sent home each Friday with the child. Oversized jars, cans and boxes are just too heavy for small children to carry. Everything must be shelf stable. Please refer to our list of food needed. We do not accept anything with glass or anything that is expired. *We very much appreciate the thought process of being extra generous by purchasing GINORMOUS jars of peanut butter but it’s too heavy. You can purchase and donate any of the items on the list below. If you would like to donate money you can do so by donating online, by check or at service. Just be sure to designate your donation for Backpack Impact/Prairie View. If you have questions, contact Lori Carballo at 636.734.6980 or email at lcarballo@charter.net .
HERE'S A LIST OF ITEMS WE NEED:
Macaroni & Cheese, Peanut Butter (regular sized plastic jars please ), Jelly ( yep, just plastic ), Soup (kid friendly flavors and regular sized cans), Canned Spaghetti w/Meatballs or Spaghettio’s, Canned Ravioli, Beef-A-Roni/Beef Stew, Chili, Individual Sized Breakfast Cereal, Individual Packets of Oatmeal, Vegetable Cups or Small Cans of Corn, Carrots and Green Beans, Breakfast Bars, Fruit Cups (Peaches, Oranges, Fruit Cocktail, Pears),  Individually Packaged Snacks (Cheez-It’s, Animal Crackers, Cookies, Cheese Crackers, Fruit Snacks), Granola Bars, Juice Boxes, Hot Chocolate, Ramen Noodles

DONATIONS MADE BE PLACED IN THE PURPLE BINS OUTSIDE OF MODULAR 2 ON THE CHURCH PARKING LOT OR THE PURPLE BIN BEHIND NEW HOPE. YOU CAN ALSO DROP THEM OFF IN THE BLUE BARRELS IN THE LOBBY WHEN WE HAVE CHURCH SERVICE OR AT THE CHURCH OFFICE ANYTIME THEY ARE OPEN.