Good Shepherd delivers backpacks to Franklin Elementary each week during the school year. Help is needed to pick up food from Channel One on Wednesday, fill the backpacks on Wednesday evening, deliver them on Thursday or Friday, and on Tuesday pick up the backpacks from school.

Janelle Halverson and Dayton Halverson are the coordinators. Talk to them or any staff person to find out where you can help.

Backpack Volunteer Schedule

A number of churches partner with elementary schools in Rochester and in scattered areas throughout Minnesota. This program, started by Autumn Ridge Church with Bamber Valley School, addresses a problem that many don't know about: Some kids who rely on school lunch programs during the week, have a hard time finding enough to eat when they're away from school. The program also improves attendance as children who receive the backpacks are almost never absent on Fridays. Research shows students who are not hungry learn more, receive higher math scores and are less likely to repeat a grade.