Backpack Buddies

story by Kim Brauss

‘Because hunger doesn’t take the weekend off…’.

“We serve simply because there is a need,” Scott Collins said describing the origin of Backpack Buddies. “This is our community that we care about.” Backpack Buddies provides children from food-insecure homes with healthy weekend meals during the school year. The children, selected by school principals and guidance counselors, receive a backpack containing balanced meals and snacks at the end of every week. Collins, founder of the group in Marion County, said the group was created during the 2013-2014 school year: “I felt the need to try to provide food for (Marion County school) children that might go hungry over the weekend.” He said the program serves the public schools in Marion County, helping feed children from ages 4 to 19. About 108 children receive bags weekly through support volunteers. The leaders of Backpack Buddies are all public school teachers at Marion High School. Maribeth Osborn, in her 29th year of teaching as a special needs teacher, started helping the next few weeks with the weekly bags. Now she also serves as a board member. Sydney Hooks serves as president. She’s in her eighth year of teaching math. And Collins is in his 27th year of teaching art. The teachers are also involved in their communities. Hooks volunteers with several organizations, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Pilot Club. Osborn is involved with FCA as well as her church. And Collins leads FCA and also serves as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in the Gresham community. “Early on, we had a number of volunteers who were current and retired educators that helped us,” Collins said. Friendship Baptist Church of Gresham as well as area churches, civic organizations, and volunteers help collect and pack bags with kid-friendly non-perishable food. “Backpack Buddies has been a huge blessing to the hungry children of Marion County, and to me personally,” Osborn said. “I am so thankful to the Lord for putting it on Scott Collins’ heart to start Backpack Buddies many years ago.” “Leon Sturkey (Director of Operations for Marion County Schools) and Tim Perkins (Director of Transportation) stepped in and made sure food was delivered during the Spring 2020 closing of our schools,” Collins said. “We have a number of local churches, businesses, and individuals that have stepped up and provided both finances and food. These include Pee Dee Electric Co-Op, Anderson Brothers Bank, Marco Rural Water, EagleWing Tribute Band, the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, Pee Dee Peanut Farmers, and Pee Dee Academy, to name a few.”

“As teachers and volunteers, we understand that our future relies upon our children. …Our calling lies in the simple belief that we are to be ‘Jesus’ for our community – His hands, His feet, and His voice,” Collins said, “That our lives would be lived out in such a way that we serve our generation and that our heavenly Father is glorified.”

Food List

The individually wrapped, ready-to-eat or easily prepared food is placed in the child's backpack on Friday to take home. Listed below are examples we are currently sending home.

• Individual Boxes of Cereal • Fruit Cups/ Applesauce • Crackers Packaged of Any Variety (Peanut Butter, Cheese) • Granola Bars • Fruit Snacks • Pudding Cups • Apples/Oranges/Bananas • Individual Servings of Peanut Butter • Meal Type Small Pop Top Cans – Ravioli, Stew Beef, Tuna, Vienna Sausage, Beans and Franks • Juice Boxes • Non-refrigerated white or chocolate milk boxes • Small Packages of Saltines or Ritz Crackers (1 small sleeve in each Backpack)

If you would like to contribute food items, please contact Maribeth Osborn or Sydney Hooks at 843-423-2571 or Scott Collins at 843-423-2010.