Support our ongoing project:
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We're Backpack Buddies!
We are donating bags of food and essential personal items for distribution to children experiencing food insecurity at our neighborhood school, Tanglewood Elementary which educates Pre-K through Grade 3 students.
We filled 50 backpack bags to start the program and will continue to fill additional bags as needed throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
To contribute items, check the suggested foods list for what is needed and drop them off at or delivered to the church office Monday—Friday, 9A–1P.
To contribute funds, please use Zeffy or mail a check to the church office, attn.: Backpack Buddies.
Just $10 provides one child with a weekend's worth of food.
Mike holds up a bag with 1 day's food.
Bags of food for 1 day ready to be packed for distribution.
IMG_1417.mp4Short video of Mike pack 2 1-day bags into a bag for 1 weekend.
Mike delivering 2 tubs of weekend bags, enough for 2 weekends
Donate Foods to the Backpack Buddies Service Project
Suggested Food Items
NOTE: All items must be:
Self-stable (doesn’t require refrigeration)
Easy to prepare (minimal heating, no refrigerated ingredients need to be added
Generally single serving size.
Items can be dropped off at the church office Monday–Friday during regular office hours or Sunday mornings 9:30-10:15A and 11:30-12P.
Click: Printable List to take with you shopping.
* items most needed
GRAINS
Cereal in individual boxes*
(whole grain/low sugar)Pop tarts
Breakfast bars*
Granola bars, all kinds*
Crackers (cheese, graham, saltine)
Instant oatmeal/grits packets*
Pancake mix in a bottle
Small bread complete mixes: cornbread, muffins, biscuits, etc.*
Ramen noodles packages*
Beans, dried or canned (low sodium, pop-top cans preferred)*
Rice, flavored packets, instant*
Pastas
PROTEIN
Small to-go peanut butter packs*
Pork & beans – small pop-top lids*
Ravioli/spaghetti – pop-top lids*
Small single serve mac & cheese*
Canned or pouch tuna, chicken, salmon*
Beef/Turkey/Chicken jerky
Peanut butter
Protein Nutritional Shakes
SOUPS & SIDES
Vegetables, pop-top cans*
Instant mashed potatoes
Dried Soups*
Ready-to-eat/condensed soup, pop-top cans*
Ready-to-eat chili, pop-top cans*
Meal helpers (like Hamburger/Chicken/ Tuna helpers)
FRUITS
Pop-top canned fruits or fruit cups: applesauce, tropical fruit, pears, peaches, etc. (preferably packed in 100% juice or water)*
Fruit snack leathers/gummies
Plastic single-serve or squeezable apple sauce/fruit puree
Dried Fruits: raisins, cranberries, tropical mix, etc. (single serve boxes)*
SNACKS
Trail mix
Nuts
Chips/Pretzels
Pudding cups*
Jell-O cups
Cookies
Cracker Sandwiches (Lance, etc.)
DRINKS (generally single-serve)
Aseptic packaged/shelf-stable milk*
100% Juice boxes*
Gatorade (small bottle)
Sunny Delight (small bottle)
OJ (small bottle)
Bottled water (small)
OTHER
Jelly/Jams: single serving packets
Condiment packets: salt, pepper, mayo, ketchup, mustard, sugar
Plastic cutlery packets
Napkins/Hand Wetwipes
Handsanitizer
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Travel/Hotel size shampoo & soap
God's work. Our Hands
Backpack Buddies Packing
On Sunday, September 13 St. Mark's members and friends filled 50 bags bags with over $600 worth food. Each bag holds enough for 2 days for one child experiencing food insecurity at our neighborhood school, Tanglewood Elementary which educates Pre-K through Grade 3 students.
St. Mark's has commited itself to continue to fill additional bags as needed throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
To learn more about the progrand and how you can support it click on: Backpack Buddies.