Giving Back with Backpacks

WMCD Youth Team members Justin and Catherine with members of the Rachel's Table Teen Board.

After recently announcing our continued support for Griffin’s Friends (a nonprofit providing moments of joy to children with cancer), Rick’s Place (providing critical grief support to youth and their families), and Rachel’s Table (battling widespread food insecurity), we’ve been seeking opportunities to connect with each recipient and do hands-on work in collaboration with our youth team.

On Sunday, September 22, we had the opportunity to do just that - starting with Rachel’s Table! Two of our youth team members, Justin and Catherine, met up with the Rachel’s Table Teen Board in East Longmeadow to fill backpacks full of food for those experiencing food insecurity.

Because there were so many hands to help out, we were able to help fill about 160 backpacks in just under ten minutes! Every backpack that we helped fill will be donated to Holyoke Public Schools and distributed to those who need it the most.

After we filled the backpacks, we had some small group discussions on the widespread impact of food insecurity in our very own local communities.

Overall, we had a lot of fun and want to extend our biggest thank you to Rachel’s Table for letting our youth team members get hands-on experience with the important work you are doing! To learn more about Rachel’s Table, visit their website by clicking here.