Latest news with #BackpackBuddies
Perth Now
5 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
Student uses school leadership position to fundraise
The Mandurah Baptist College Primary School head boy is hoping to use his position to help children in need. Nate May, 11, hopes to use his leadership position to raise funds and awareness of the Backpack Buddies program run by local charity Bridge Builders. He currently volunteers at the organisation every week and has already raised more than $2400, which will feed three children in the Backpack Buddies program for the entire year. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Bridge Builders supports 180 children in 15 schools across the Peel region, with 40 more children in the community still on the waitlist. 'I can't imagine going home on the weekend to no food in the pantry,' Nate said. 'That's the sad reality for lots of kids in the community and I want to do as much as I can to help.' Bridge Builders CEO Kelly Hinder said Nate's dedication and leadership was truly inspiring. 'His passion for helping others embodies the spirit of community and generosity we strive to uphold at Bridge Builders,' she said. 'With his help and the support of our incredible community, we can ensure that no child in our region has to face hunger alone.' Nate May and his sister Mia volunteer at Bridge Builders every Thursday with their family Credit: Supplied Nate's mother Demi said she couldn't be prouder of her son's commitment and the positive impact he was making at such a young age. Nate will be helping MBC hold a whole school cereal domino event on June 25 to raise more donations for Bridge Builders. The event encourages every student to contribute a cereal box that will form a large domino chain. The cereal will then be donated to Bridge Builders, along with a gold coin donation. 'Please, if you can spare any loose change for hungry local kids, it would make my year,' Nate said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Backpack Buddies in metro Atlanta hits major milestone in fight against hunger
The Brief Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta has served its one millionth meal, providing weekend food to children in need across 50 Title I schools. The nonprofit has grown from serving 800 students weekly in 2022 to 2,500 students each week in 2025. Volunteers help pack and distribute bags filled with six shelf-stable meals to help fight weekend hunger among food-insecure children. ATLANTA - A metro Atlanta nonprofit is celebrating a major milestone in its mission to fight childhood hunger. Backpack Buddies of metro Atlanta, which provides weekend meals for students in need, recently served its one millionth meal. What we know The organization helps students at Title I schools head home from school on Fridays with enough food to last through the weekend—a critical time when many children face food insecurity. "On Fridays a lot of children think oh I'm going to go home, I'm going to play with my friends, I'm going to do fun things with my family. But for a lot of these children Fridays mean going home hungry and this is why Backpack Buddies is stepping in to bridge that gap between Friday and Monday," said Executive Director Denise Bjurholm. Backpack Buddies, which launched in 2022, now serves 50 schools across Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties. According to Bjurholm, about 180,000 children in metro Atlanta are considered food insecure. What they're saying "So currently we are serving fifty Title One schools in the Metro Atlanta area. We serve Gwinnett County, Cobb County, Fulton, and DeKalb. There are roughly around 180,000 children in metro Atlanta who are deemed food insecure," she said. In just three years, the number of children served weekly has grown from 800 to 2,500. "You know with the economy the way it is, prices are rising, food is rising, fresh fruit and vegetables are rising. What we are providing is a bag of shelf stable food that can really last longer and we are providing six meals in these bags," Bjurholm explained. The meals are assembled with the help of volunteers, who work in the nonprofit's warehouse to pack food. Local community groups then pick up and distribute the bags to area schools. Volunteers say the work is meaningful. "It's fantastic becasue it's such a tangible, every single sheet has we need 86 of this, we need 55 of this, we need 181 of this, and that's kids. Like we see it as numbers but it's kids," said volunteers Susanna and Richard Warren. "Knowing how many children don't have food on the weekends, it is very very rewarding," added volunteer Michele Fox. In April, Backpack Buddies reached its milestone of one million meals served. "When a child returns to school on a Monday they are energized, they look better, they feel better, they're ready to learn, and I think that is a huge impact we are making on this child," Bjurholm said. What's next While the organization is celebrating the milestone, leaders say they are already focused on the future. "Every weekend feeding bag that we pack it is filled with hope, it's packed with love, and it's delivered with a purpose," said Bjurholm. Their mission: making sure no child goes hungry.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Leeds Creek Bank Festival postponed to May 24
LEEDS, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – This year's Creek Bank Festival & Car Show has been rescheduled to its rain date of Saturday, May 24 due to inclement weather. The event, which marks the 30th edition of the festival, will be held at Leeds Memorial Park. This year's gathering will feature all sorts of family activities including balloon art, face painting, hot dog eating and hula hooping contests, and the ever-cute Creek Bark Dog Pageant. The always-popular Cruising the Creek Bank Car Show will also return this year with proceeds benefiting two local nonprofits–Backpack Buddies and Leeds Outreach. There will also be dozens of vendors, offering everything from handcrafted items and fun gifts to festival food and frozen treats, perfect for a warm spring day. The festival will kick off its live entertainment for the day with Heath Green and Adam Guthrie, two talented musicians who are new to Creek Bank and ready to bring energy to the stage Additional performances will include singer/songwriter Lynnox Poe plus the return of crowd-favorite Terry Padgett with his popular Elvis tribute. Festival-goers can also enjoy a lively performance from the Cash Domino Killers, known for their entertaining 50s and 60s rock and roll show. Miss Leeds Area Samantha Hennings will also be part of the festival lineup. There will also be a limited supply of commemorative 30th Anniversary Creek Bank Festival shirts at the Leeds Chamber booth. For more information, email amy@ or visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Leeds hosting 30th annual Creek Bank Festival next weekend
LEEDS, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to celebrate three decades of the Creek Bank Festival at Leeds Memorial Park May 17. The much-anticipated, free community event promises to be a day full of fun, food, music, and family-friendly entertainment. This year's gathering will feature dozens of vendors, offering everything from handcrafted items and fun gifts to festival food and frozen treats, perfect for a warm spring day. There will also be all sorts of family activities during the event including balloon art, face painting, hot dog eating and hula hooping contests, and the ever-cute Creek Bark Dog Pageant. The always-popular Cruising the Creek Bank Car Show will also return this year with proceeds benefiting two local nonprofits–Backpack Buddies and Leeds Outreach. The festival will kick off its live entertainment for the day with Heath Green and Adam Guthrie, two talented musicians who are new to Creek Bank and ready to bring energy to the stage. Additional performances will include singer/songwriter Lynnox Poe plus the return of crowd-favorite Terry Padgett with his popular Elvis tribute. Festival-goers can also enjoy a lively performance from the Cash Domino Killers, known for their entertaining 50s and 60s rock and roll show. Miss Leeds Area Samantha Hennings will also be part of the festival lineup. There will also be a limited supply of commemorative 30th Anniversary Creek Bank Festival shirts at the Leeds Chamber booth. For more information, email amy@ or visit In case of inclement weather, a rain date has been set for May 24. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
