News
PRESENTLY SERVING 254 CHILDREN------------January 2016
The Challenge has been met. Since December 1, 2013, we have raised over $10,000.00. Thanks to everyone that has supported and continues to support this ministry!Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation Challenge
“Matthew 25 Neighbor in Need Grant”
For every $1.00, Shenandoah Valley Lutheran Ministries collects for LUKE’S BACKPACK, from December 1 through March 31, 2014; the Foundation will match it with $.50 up to $5,000.
The CHALLENGE IS ON!
Can you help make this happen!!!!
Please make a donation either through your church, an organization, or by sending a check to:
SVLM (Memo-Luke’s Backpack)
P.O. Box 132
Toms Brook, VA 22660
The Challenge has been met. Since December 1, 2013, we have raised over $10,000.00. Thanks to everyone that has supported and continues to support this ministry!Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation Challenge
“Matthew 25 Neighbor in Need Grant”
For every $1.00, Shenandoah Valley Lutheran Ministries collects for LUKE’S BACKPACK, from December 1 through March 31, 2014; the Foundation will match it with $.50 up to $5,000.
The CHALLENGE IS ON!
Can you help make this happen!!!!
Please make a donation either through your church, an organization, or by sending a check to:
SVLM (Memo-Luke’s Backpack)
P.O. Box 132
Toms Brook, VA 22660
NOW SERVING 171 STUDENTS PER WEEK!
Central High teachers grew beards --the students raised $1545.00--
--Money was divided among three organization--one being Luke's Backpack
As results, beards were shaved into unique designs
Congratulations Central for reaching your goal and your donation to Luke's Backpack!
--Money was divided among three organization--one being Luke's Backpack
As results, beards were shaved into unique designs
Congratulations Central for reaching your goal and your donation to Luke's Backpack!
40 Peter Muhlenberg students
collected 210 food items in December
for the Luke's Backpack program.
Thank-you, Thank-you!!!!
collected 210 food items in December
for the Luke's Backpack program.
Thank-you, Thank-you!!!!
Luke's Backpack December 2013
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. Below is a wonderful announcement from Susan Fleming and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. I've also included an email from Peter Muhlenberg Principal Gina Stetter. I asked her if she would be willing to give us a view from the other side of Luke's Backpack since she gets to see it in action. Mrs. Stetter graciously did.
Christmas is a time of good news in a world full of bad news. Emanuel, God with us. Thank you for sharing and showing God's good news with your neighbor. Merry Christmas! We can't wait to see you packing backpacks in the new year! Leslie Heird
Mt. Jackson 36 Strasburg 50 Woodstock 73
Good News for Luke's Backpack
From Susan Fleming GREAT NEWS!!!!! We received a $5000.00 grant from Thrivent (see below.) We also have the opportunity to receive up to $5000.00 more (for every $1.00 we raise—they will donate 50 cents) This program runs from Dec. 1 until March 31. At this point we already have $4400.00 donated since Dec. 1. –Not sure if all qualifies, but a great start! What a Christmas blessing! Merry Christmas to All! Susan
This is part of the original message from Thrivent
Congratulations from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation on being selected to receive a Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need grant! Only the most effective programs were chosen in this highly competitive granting process (close to 650 organizations applied for funding). Kudos!
The service being provided by your outreach program is a wonderful example of generously caring for others. It also aligns with Thrivent Financials for Lutherans’ purpose as a membership organization of Christians that serves our members and society by guiding both to be wise with money and to live generously.
From Principal Gina Stetter
We simply cannot begin to thank the Luke's Backpack volunteers enough for their efforts. It is both sad and heart-warming to see the number of bags lined up in our back office hallway each Friday. Sad because of the number of children in our school who come from homes that have an unstable food supply. But heart-warming because of the efforts and work of such generous people in our community.
The students who benefit from these bags of compassion are both boys and girls. They cross ethnic lines, town lines (county, Woodstock and Edinburg) and include those with both high ability and those who have the additional struggle of an identified disability. Despite their diversity, they all, without exception, are "good kids" who come to school each day motivated to work hard and learn. We know that hungry students have more difficulty focusing and learning. Thanks to the Luke's Backpack volunteers, our students are able to come to school on Monday morning fed and ready to achieve.
The students are grateful for their bags. The Luke's Backpack team has shown care and attention to the social needs of the students by ensuring that they bags are "cool" and blend in with the types of bags all other students routinely carry back and forth to school. The food choices are healthy, but also include the extra "treats" (fruit snacks, juice boxes and granola bars) that our students simply would not have available when parents are searching for the most economical food choices. Second year recipients have the Friday-Luke's Backpack Routine down and are often at the office door early Friday morning just to check to make sure the bags are coming and "Are they here yet?" They don't want to forget and get on the bus without making sure they have their bag.
From the office staff who see the gratitude and know intimately the needs of these students, our deep and heartfelt thanks. Blessings!
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. Below is a wonderful announcement from Susan Fleming and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. I've also included an email from Peter Muhlenberg Principal Gina Stetter. I asked her if she would be willing to give us a view from the other side of Luke's Backpack since she gets to see it in action. Mrs. Stetter graciously did.
Christmas is a time of good news in a world full of bad news. Emanuel, God with us. Thank you for sharing and showing God's good news with your neighbor. Merry Christmas! We can't wait to see you packing backpacks in the new year! Leslie Heird
Mt. Jackson 36 Strasburg 50 Woodstock 73
Good News for Luke's Backpack
From Susan Fleming GREAT NEWS!!!!! We received a $5000.00 grant from Thrivent (see below.) We also have the opportunity to receive up to $5000.00 more (for every $1.00 we raise—they will donate 50 cents) This program runs from Dec. 1 until March 31. At this point we already have $4400.00 donated since Dec. 1. –Not sure if all qualifies, but a great start! What a Christmas blessing! Merry Christmas to All! Susan
This is part of the original message from Thrivent
Congratulations from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation on being selected to receive a Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need grant! Only the most effective programs were chosen in this highly competitive granting process (close to 650 organizations applied for funding). Kudos!
The service being provided by your outreach program is a wonderful example of generously caring for others. It also aligns with Thrivent Financials for Lutherans’ purpose as a membership organization of Christians that serves our members and society by guiding both to be wise with money and to live generously.
From Principal Gina Stetter
We simply cannot begin to thank the Luke's Backpack volunteers enough for their efforts. It is both sad and heart-warming to see the number of bags lined up in our back office hallway each Friday. Sad because of the number of children in our school who come from homes that have an unstable food supply. But heart-warming because of the efforts and work of such generous people in our community.
The students who benefit from these bags of compassion are both boys and girls. They cross ethnic lines, town lines (county, Woodstock and Edinburg) and include those with both high ability and those who have the additional struggle of an identified disability. Despite their diversity, they all, without exception, are "good kids" who come to school each day motivated to work hard and learn. We know that hungry students have more difficulty focusing and learning. Thanks to the Luke's Backpack volunteers, our students are able to come to school on Monday morning fed and ready to achieve.
The students are grateful for their bags. The Luke's Backpack team has shown care and attention to the social needs of the students by ensuring that they bags are "cool" and blend in with the types of bags all other students routinely carry back and forth to school. The food choices are healthy, but also include the extra "treats" (fruit snacks, juice boxes and granola bars) that our students simply would not have available when parents are searching for the most economical food choices. Second year recipients have the Friday-Luke's Backpack Routine down and are often at the office door early Friday morning just to check to make sure the bags are coming and "Are they here yet?" They don't want to forget and get on the bus without making sure they have their bag.
From the office staff who see the gratitude and know intimately the needs of these students, our deep and heartfelt thanks. Blessings!
Luke's Backpack November 2013
We at Luke's Backpack have been very busy this year. Food seems to be flying off of our shelves. We're feeding 145 students from elementary through high school. We're so thankful for your food and monetary donations and your volunteer hours. We couldn't do this without your help. In fact, we're able to reach more students this year because of your support and love for these kids. As of November 8th, our numbers are:
Mt. Jackson 32 Strasburg 47 Woodstock 66
EXCITING NEWS: Check out our new website at SVLM.org
Did we miss something? Email Susan Fleming at sfleming@shentel.net and we'll make corrections.
WANTED: Everything, especially, peanut butter/cheese cracker packs, fruit cups, peanut butter jars 16 oz or smaller, peanut butter to go packs, Hormel Compleat meals (preferably not mac n cheese or spaghetti flavors since they already get mac n cheese cups and cans of spaghettios)
NOT NEEDED: WATER-we have enough water for the year.
MT. JACKSON OPPORTUNITIES
The Luke's Backpack site in Mt. Jackson needs help. The site is actually in Ashby Lee Elementary school. Contact Leslie Heird if interested in helping with any of these.
1. Delivery volunteers needed to deliver North Fork Middle School backpacks. Currently there are 9 students receiving bags. You can do this Thursdays during the school day or Friday mornings. It's an easy way to volunteer while being a huge blessing. You can sign up for a certain week or take on full time.
2. Packing volunteers needed for Thanksgiving week. You would need to pack either on Monday, Nov 26th or Tuesday, Nov. 27th during the school day. Great opportunity for experienced packers. They use the card system like Woodstock does. It's a small room so we need 4 people at the most. Call Leslie if you have questions or want to volunteer. More packing opportunities for Mt. Jackson will be available in the new year.
3. Volunteer Coordinator needed for Mt. Jackson. This person would be responsible for scheduling volunteers to pack backpacks, scheduling volunteers to deliver North Fork Middle School backpacks, training new volunteers to pack backpacks, and general communication with volunteers. A lot of this can be done from home, but you do need to be available to come into the site during school hours when needed. Of course, you'll have me, Leslie Heird, to give you support, and you won't be alone. You'll have Carolyn Long as your co-coordinator for the site. She is the inventory coordinator.
We at Luke's Backpack have been very busy this year. Food seems to be flying off of our shelves. We're feeding 145 students from elementary through high school. We're so thankful for your food and monetary donations and your volunteer hours. We couldn't do this without your help. In fact, we're able to reach more students this year because of your support and love for these kids. As of November 8th, our numbers are:
Mt. Jackson 32 Strasburg 47 Woodstock 66
EXCITING NEWS: Check out our new website at SVLM.org
Did we miss something? Email Susan Fleming at sfleming@shentel.net and we'll make corrections.
WANTED: Everything, especially, peanut butter/cheese cracker packs, fruit cups, peanut butter jars 16 oz or smaller, peanut butter to go packs, Hormel Compleat meals (preferably not mac n cheese or spaghetti flavors since they already get mac n cheese cups and cans of spaghettios)
NOT NEEDED: WATER-we have enough water for the year.
MT. JACKSON OPPORTUNITIES
The Luke's Backpack site in Mt. Jackson needs help. The site is actually in Ashby Lee Elementary school. Contact Leslie Heird if interested in helping with any of these.
1. Delivery volunteers needed to deliver North Fork Middle School backpacks. Currently there are 9 students receiving bags. You can do this Thursdays during the school day or Friday mornings. It's an easy way to volunteer while being a huge blessing. You can sign up for a certain week or take on full time.
2. Packing volunteers needed for Thanksgiving week. You would need to pack either on Monday, Nov 26th or Tuesday, Nov. 27th during the school day. Great opportunity for experienced packers. They use the card system like Woodstock does. It's a small room so we need 4 people at the most. Call Leslie if you have questions or want to volunteer. More packing opportunities for Mt. Jackson will be available in the new year.
3. Volunteer Coordinator needed for Mt. Jackson. This person would be responsible for scheduling volunteers to pack backpacks, scheduling volunteers to deliver North Fork Middle School backpacks, training new volunteers to pack backpacks, and general communication with volunteers. A lot of this can be done from home, but you do need to be available to come into the site during school hours when needed. Of course, you'll have me, Leslie Heird, to give you support, and you won't be alone. You'll have Carolyn Long as your co-coordinator for the site. She is the inventory coordinator.
Luke's Backpack September 2013
As of 9-20-13, Luke's Backpack is up and running, not just in the 3 elementary schools and middle schools, but the high schools as well. Yes, I said high schools. And yes, there's even a need there too.
As of the third week of school, we are helping 114 students. That number is right about where we were at the end of last school year. Woodstock has 48 students. Strasburg has 34, and Mt. Jackson has 32. Expect the number to increase. The schools are still identifying students.
God is so good. He's always meeting our needs, and has enabled us to expand again this year. Our goal at Luke's Backpack is to never turn a needy child away. Please keep this program and these kids in your prayers. They may not know you, but every week they get a gift of love from you.
Thank you for everything you do for this ministry!
As of 9-20-13, Luke's Backpack is up and running, not just in the 3 elementary schools and middle schools, but the high schools as well. Yes, I said high schools. And yes, there's even a need there too.
As of the third week of school, we are helping 114 students. That number is right about where we were at the end of last school year. Woodstock has 48 students. Strasburg has 34, and Mt. Jackson has 32. Expect the number to increase. The schools are still identifying students.
God is so good. He's always meeting our needs, and has enabled us to expand again this year. Our goal at Luke's Backpack is to never turn a needy child away. Please keep this program and these kids in your prayers. They may not know you, but every week they get a gift of love from you.
Thank you for everything you do for this ministry!