Mary Hardbarger | The Roanoke Times

John Grimm, pastor of Jordan's Chapel UMC, hands Sara Jarrells, 4, a breakfast item to put in a pack as she makes her way down the assembly line of volunteers. Grimm and Sara were among about 25 volunteers helping pack the bags Thursday night.

Volunteer Gloria Surber closes a bag after adding a drink Thursday night at Jordan's Chapel United Methodist Church in Pulaski. Each pack includes two breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners, three snacks and one drink and follows certain nutritional guidelines.

| Mary Hardbarger

mary.hardbarger@roanoke.com, 381-1679

PULASKI -- As demand continues to rise for assistance from a food program launched by members of a United Methodist women's group, the funding to keep it going has started to dwindle.

In September, Holly King and other members of the Pulaski group set out on a mission to fill the stomachs of students at Critzer Elementary School through a backpack program called "Feed My Lambs."

Knowing that students were provided at least two well-balanced meals at school Monday through Friday, they worried about those who didn't have access to food on the weekends.

So, every Thursday the women and volunteers met at the church to fill backpacks with food to last through the weekend.

Each pack includes two breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners, three snacks and one drink and follows certain nutritional guidelines. The program receives the majority of the food from the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank in Salem, and the rest is bought at grocery stores.

The program began with a $1,500 Appalachian Hunger and Poverty grant. By late October, the program had accumulated approximately $2,500, and by the end of the year, $4,000, thanks to sizable donations and fundraising efforts. Since then, donations have slowed, King said.

King said the program has about $1,800 in the bank -- enough to cover just four more weeks of food.

Although they have applied for several grants, King is worried that if the donations continue to dwindle, the program won't be able to continue.

"We still need lots of help," she said.

On Sept. 3, the first week of the program, 25 backpacks were filled. Two weeks later, that number grew to 72, and today, approximately 120 children go home for the weekend with a backpack full of food.

There is a waiting list at Critzer Elementary for students to receive the assistance, but because of the lack of money, the program can't accommodate those needs.

On Thursday night, about 25 volunteers gathered in the church's basement to fill the bags. Among them was Vicky Goad, a paraeducator in special education at Critzer Elementary. She said she's noticed the negative effects the lack of food can have on a student.

"I've learned that if a person's basic needs aren't met -- that's food, water and shelter -- they can't focus on their higher-level needs, like learning and education," said Goad, who's also a member of the church and King's sister. "That's what concerns me."

She has also seen the positive outcome when those needs are met.

"I've heard these kids talk about not having things to eat, and when they get their bags, they are so excited," she said.

Goad said she is optimistic that the shelves will keep refilling and the program will keep running.

"My philosophy is that we don't need a big stockpile of food or money," she said. "We've had just enough to get us through each week. What we do need is a continual supply of donations and food to get us through and to make this a long-lasting program."

Various churches have asked the group how to start their own, Goad said.

"My biggest hope for this program is that we wouldn't need it," Goad said. "But as long as we do, my hope would be for it to continue."