Backpack Buddy Donation Day

Some children have the guarantee of meals only at school. Backpack Buddies assists 150 elementary students in school districts 3, 6, and 7, discreetly slipping into their backpacks foods they can help them return Monday morning ready to learn.A looming concern is the approaching holiday season, when extended school breaks mean more missed meals. The goal is for children to have extra food for Thanksgiving break, and a full backpack of food at winter break.

Needed foods:
Breakfast: Breakfast bars,… Show more instant grits and oatmeal packets, individual cereal boxes or tubs, toaster pastries.
Main Meal: Canned spaghetti and other noodle and sauces; soup, tuna and crackers, chicken and crackers, potted meats, tuna pouches. For the holidays, small canned hams.
Beverages: Juice boxes and pouches, powdered drink mixes, small juice bottles and cans.
Fruits: Individual applesauce cups, Fruit cups, raisins and other dried fruit.
Snacks: Pretzels, cheese and cracker packs, individual chips or cheese crackers, granola crackers.
Treats: Individual puddings and cookies, marshmallow treats, snack cakes.

These businesses have donation boxes: Uncle Ray’s Barbecue on Union Street, Sheer Magic in Cowpens, Spartanburg Animal Clinic in Cedar Springs, Upstate Muscular Therapy on Pine Street, Gateway Travel on Fernwood-Glendale, and Mixed Company on Kennedy Street.

Upcoming drop off sites (all dates are Sundays; all times are 1-3 p.m.)
Nov. 4 Christian Supply parking lot on John B. White Boulevard.
Nov. 11 Former Food Lion parking lot in Cedar Springs
Nov. 18 Ingles parking lot, East Main Street
Nov. 25 Ben Avon United Methodist Church parking lot, Avondale Drive.
Dec. 2 Target parking lot, Highway 29.
Dec. 9 Between Panara and Carmike in Hillcrest Shopping Center parking lot
Dec. 16 `Beacon parking lot, John B. White Boulevard.

Call (864) 384-5821, 205-3633, or 582-8205.

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