Knapsacks program volunteers plan strategies for the new school year. / W.C. Mann
HANCEVILLE – The Hanceville Knapsacks for Kids program leaders met with representatives of other local groups last Thursday to plan for this school year, and to discuss a new offering for needy families of Hanceville students. Nancy Horton and Sandy Waters, who head up the program at Hanceville First United Methodist Church, shared a little about what is happening.
Horton explained, “The Hanceville Schools Knapsacks for Kids Committee met for their planning meeting Thursday. This is the beginning of the third year for this community effort to provide weekend meals for eligible students of all three schools. We are proud to partner with 14 churches, civic clubs and individual donors to support this effort.
“Additionally, a new program will benefit families that need emergency food assistance. The program will be called the Bulldog Pantry. This program will be designed to help the families of Hanceville students who might be experiencing an emergency need for food due to circumstances beyond their control. The eligible families will be identified after they make application through the school counselors. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. at the Hanceville Civic Center.”
Hanceville’s Knapsacks program relies on numerous partners, who donate goods and give their time to come and pack bags. Last year’s partners included Hopewell Baptist Church, Hanceville First United Methodist, Stouts Mountain Baptist, Trinity Lutheran, First Baptist Hanceville, Northside Church of Christ, Center Hill Baptist, Garden City Church of God, Pleasant Grove Methodist, Hanceville Civitan Club, Hanceville Culture Club, Highway 91 Homemakers Club and Pirkey Tax Service. More help is coming: Megan Bear recently informed The Tribune that her Hanceville Rocks rock painting/hunting group will be helping out this year.
Waters added, “We had a great kick-off meeting. There was a lot of enthusiasm from all of our community partner representatives. It is truly a blessing to see the various churches, civic groups, businesses and individuals that come together to make this program a success. I would also like to thank Mayor Kenneth Nail and the council for their continued support. There is a strong possibility that without their belief in the program and their desire to help Hanceville's children, the Knapsacks for Kids program may have never become a reality.”
Any person or group interested in helping can contact Horton at 256-309-1936 or Waters at 256-339-0634.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
