A Short History of McBackpack
McBackpack began in 2007 when Ann Randall and Gerry Lake approached the Poudre School District to see how they could help with something that would help the students. Susan Lind and Jan Stark, PSD Resource Specialists, suggested there was a need for supplemental food for a number of students who were not receiving enough food at home over weekends. Out of that concern, Ann Randall and Gerry Lake worked with school staff to receive school names that had students in need of supplemental food at home. They began buying food and getting donations to pack five food bags per week and deliver them to the children's schools. McBackpack does not know the names of any of the students who receive the food bags - only the school names where the bags will be delivered.
The following year, Ann spoke at First Presbyterian Church in a Minute for Missions in which she proposed a different "Small Group Ministry" for members of the congregation. A group of 12-15 volunteers answered the call and began packing about 20 food bags each week in the basement of the church and delivering them to the children's schools.
In 2009, McBackpack outgrew the basement space and was allowed to move upstairs to the main meeting room in the church. Dave Randall designed shelving for the storeroom that would withstand the weight of the foods and Wayne Carroll and Dale Lake built them. The church has continued to allow McBackpack to use church space for all these years.
With the growth of the program, volunteers came from many churches and other organizations in Fort Collins. Thirty to forty volunteers showed up each week to pack and deliver.
In 2012, Gerry Lake asked ten volunteers to form the Board of Directors: Barbara Frye, Sharyl Haas, Cleon Kimberling, Dale Lake, Gerry Lake, Carol Pleacher, David Pleacher, Ann Randall, Dave Randall, and Sue Siferd. The group wrote the Articles of Incorporation in 2012 and the By-Laws in 2013.
In January 2014, McBackpack became incorporated as a 501(c)3, non-profit organization. Donations to McBackpack, Inc. then became tax deductible.
The program continues to grow. November 2019 marked the beginning of our 13th year of packing and delivering food bags to students in need within the Poudre School District. Volunteers now pack and deliver over 400 food bags each week to forty-two schools.
Click here for a printable copy
McBackpack began in 2007 when Ann Randall and Gerry Lake approached the Poudre School District to see how they could help with something that would help the students. Susan Lind and Jan Stark, PSD Resource Specialists, suggested there was a need for supplemental food for a number of students who were not receiving enough food at home over weekends. Out of that concern, Ann Randall and Gerry Lake worked with school staff to receive school names that had students in need of supplemental food at home. They began buying food and getting donations to pack five food bags per week and deliver them to the children's schools. McBackpack does not know the names of any of the students who receive the food bags - only the school names where the bags will be delivered.
The following year, Ann spoke at First Presbyterian Church in a Minute for Missions in which she proposed a different "Small Group Ministry" for members of the congregation. A group of 12-15 volunteers answered the call and began packing about 20 food bags each week in the basement of the church and delivering them to the children's schools.
In 2009, McBackpack outgrew the basement space and was allowed to move upstairs to the main meeting room in the church. Dave Randall designed shelving for the storeroom that would withstand the weight of the foods and Wayne Carroll and Dale Lake built them. The church has continued to allow McBackpack to use church space for all these years.
With the growth of the program, volunteers came from many churches and other organizations in Fort Collins. Thirty to forty volunteers showed up each week to pack and deliver.
In 2012, Gerry Lake asked ten volunteers to form the Board of Directors: Barbara Frye, Sharyl Haas, Cleon Kimberling, Dale Lake, Gerry Lake, Carol Pleacher, David Pleacher, Ann Randall, Dave Randall, and Sue Siferd. The group wrote the Articles of Incorporation in 2012 and the By-Laws in 2013.
In January 2014, McBackpack became incorporated as a 501(c)3, non-profit organization. Donations to McBackpack, Inc. then became tax deductible.
The program continues to grow. November 2019 marked the beginning of our 13th year of packing and delivering food bags to students in need within the Poudre School District. Volunteers now pack and deliver over 400 food bags each week to forty-two schools.
Click here for a printable copy
