HAMLET – Sharing a common interest in aspiring to help local students from their hometown, college students Brett Bowers and Justus Ellerbe have initiated “Impact Backpack,” a program geared toward making Richmond County’s youth better prepared and more successful in life.
Both graduates of Richmond Senior High School in 2016, Bowers and Ellerbe have put their summer break to good use, as Impact Backpack approaches its second full month of operation. The charity program collects school supplies and food items that will be distributed to local students and their families in the coming month ahead of the new school year.
And on Saturday, Impact Backpack held its first major fundraiser through a three-on-three basketball tournament at the pair’s church, Second Baptist Church in Hamlet.
“The idea came from East Carolina University, where I help out with a lot of things on campus,” Ellerbe, a rising junior criminal justice major, said. “I’m the president of the T.E.A.M. (Talented, Empowered, Aspiring Men) and the chairman of student safety on campus. So, I thought to myself, ‘why am I doing all of this here and not something in my own community?’
“In our county, there are definitely needs that need to be met,” he continued. “I feel like being young men, Brett and I should help people. In order to aspire to be great one day, you have to start taking steps right now. It’s the little things — taking that initiative. We started (Impact Backpack) off an idea, and the support from the community has been amazing.”
Through their involvement with and commitment to SBC, the duo’s dream has taken flight into a reality, with more donations and support coming with each day that passes.
“When Justus told me he wanted to start something, I was like ‘heck yeah,’” Bowers, who is set to begin classes at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the fall, said. “I started talking to Drew Stables, the youth pastor at Second Baptist, and we met with the pastor, Chris Hawks. We went over all the logistics, what kind of schools we’ll be targeting and how we’ll deliver the bags.
“We were thinking of ways to fundraise, and I came up with the idea for the basketball tournament,” he added. “We have open gym (at SBC) twice a week, and a lot of guys come out and are competitive. We thought it would be a fun way to raise money and it’s going to a great cause.”
A total of 31 players signed up for the basketball tournament, with nine teams competing for the inaugural crown. In the “regular season” part of the tournament, Bowers explained that each team played each of the others five times before entering a double-elimination tournament. Games were played to 11 points following general half-court “make-it, take-it” rules, and the championship game went to a final score of 21 points.
After raising $200 to go toward Impact Backpack, it was the four-man crew of Robert Bears, Kelly Miller, Adam Sweatt and Jalynn Terry that swept the table with a perfect record to win it all. The foursome defeated the team of Antonio Diggs, Ray Graham and Justin Morrison 21-3 in the final game.
Left to right: Terry, Miller, Sweatt and Bears won the three-on-three basketball tournament Saturday.
“With it being the first year, and us only having a month and a half of preparation, I felt like it was a good turnout,” Bowers said reflecting back on the fundraiser. “We were able to raise $200 in one day which is a really good thing. A lot of people came out, and next year it’ll be a lot more organized. A lot of good people helped me out, like Justus, Joey Bennett, Drew, and Steven Nicoletti.”
Ellerbe echoed Bowers’ sentiments, and added why this program is so important to him.
“The turnout was great, and I give my props to Brett for setting the whole thing up,” Ellerbe said. “Even though it was a tournament meant for fun, it’s all going to a good cause.
“I feel like people like to see younger people step outside the box and help others, especially our generation, which is usually deemed as lazy,” Ellerbe noted. “We’re trying to be leaders and do what’s right, and we’ve had a lot of support from family, friends and strangers. It’s been really great.”
At this point, Bowers and Ellerbe have selected the three Hamlet area schools (Fairview Heights and Monroe Avenue elementary schools, and Hamlet Middle School) as the recipients of Impact Backpack’s donations. But with the help of the community, and future fundraisers, they hope to expand their initiative to more of the 15 public schools in Richmond County.
While supplies are continuing to be collected at SBC, the team is in the works of scheduling an official distribution day.
Expressing how pleased he’s been to see the community come together when it’s realized what he and Ellerbe are doing, Bowers noted that the annual Highway 55 three-on-three soccer tournament set for Saturday, July 28, at Browder Park in Rockingham, has announced it will donate all of its proceeds to Impact Backpack.
“We hope to make this tournament an annual event,” Bowers said. “We’d like to include some of the guys Justus knows in Greenville, and the goal is to make this a national campaign. I want to expand it to all schools in Richmond County, but to do that, we need to get the word out a little more. We also have a partnership with Backpack Pals, and that’s helping us along.
“People can come by the church between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays to drop off donations,” Bowers added. “They can also send them in by mail, or contact me or Justus on Facebook.”
And while they’ve hit the ground running with a lot of early success, Bowers and Ellerbe know that they can continue to grow their charity and help make a bigger and more immediate impact in the local community.
“I feel like we haven’t reached the best part yet,” Bowers concluded. “We haven’t given out the supplies and food to students — but I know it will be a really touching and emotional moment. These are necessary tools for students to have success in classroom, and I can’t wait to see the look on their faces.”
