The Hollins University campus community donated 530 food items in support of the Elijah’s Backpack Food Drive, held October 10 – 17.
Sponsored by Roanoke’s St. Philip Lutheran Church, Elijah’s Backpack provides local children with healthy meals when their families struggle to do so. Officials at Mountain View and Burlington elementary schools in Roanoke County select students on the basis of need to receive a selection of individual serving-sized breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack items in their backpacks each Friday afternoon.
The chaplain’s office at Hollins placed donation boxes in Moody Dining Hall and duPont Chapel and collected cereal, fruit cups, soup, oatmeal, juices, macaroni and cheese, apple sauce, granola bars, and many other nutritious food items. Donations were still arriving at the chapel as University Chaplain Jenny Call and student volunteers prepared to transport the goods to St. Philip on the afternoon of October 17.
“I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of Hollins’ students, faculty and staff, and how they give of their time and resources to help others,” said Call. “Through the food collection drive we are able to support 42 students in need at two local elementary schools. We are honored to partner with the wonderful ministry that Elijah’s Backpack offers to our community.”
In addition to food items, the Elijah’s Backpack program welcomes financial gifts as well as volunteers to help pack and deliver backpacks on a weekly basis. For more information, contact Pastor Kelly Derrick at (540) 366-7046 or pastorkelly@stphiliplutheran.net.
