HAMLET - “Impact Backpack” began as an idea formulated by Justus Ellerbe and Brett Bowers, two college students at Second Baptist Church in Hamlet. As they returned home from college in May, they wanted to give back to students in their hometown. With a dream of collecting $2,000 in donations to supply families in need of backpacks and school supplies, that dream became a reality, collecting over $5,000 to help the students of Richmond County Schools and our community.
Not only did the church come forward, their Vacation Bible School program also gave their missions offering of over $300 to Impact Backpack. SBC later hosted a 3 on 3 basketball tournament to raise support. Individuals contributed, as well as businesses, and when county native Dannell Ellerbe learned of the project, he sent supply kits to fill the backpacks.
Justus and Brett, along with other members of the youth programs spent many hours “cleaning out Walmart” of school supplies. Monroe Avenue saw much of those supplies, as well as Fairview Heights, and Hamlet Middle. These supplies will be available for teachers to use and distribute at their discretion throughout the school year. Drew Stables of SBC said that those were the 3 schools in our community that they chose to adopt early on, being that they were in our neighborhoods and local community.
On Monday, August 20, Stables and his group delivered 180 backpacks to the adopted schools. Each backpack filled with supplies and a New Testament for each impacted family. In addition to the supplies and backpacks, Stables also mentioned that with the remaining funds, Brett and Justus wanted to continue “Impact Backpack” by donating $500 to Monroe Avenue, Fairview Heights, and Hamlet Middle, for uniforms and other items such as belts, shoes, and underwear. Items will be kept on hand at each school for those in need.
Stables added “This will be an on-going ministry throughout the year, and we have tried over the years to become a necessary presence in the schools to get to know the administration, teachers and students. We have helped prepare and cook for Title I nights, hosted staff appreciation meals for the school staff and faculty, helped tutor in the classrooms and supported through various clubs and extracurricular activities on the campuses.”
As the first week of school comes to a close, Stables and members of the church want principals at surrounding schools to keep in mind that they are always willing to lend a helping hand.
Editor's note: It is the policy of the Richmond Observer to print news release material in its original format, as it was received, with minimal, if any, editorial adjustments.
