BATH — The Community Connection members and the Outreach Mission of the Bath United Methodist Church are jointly sponsoring a public oven fried chicken, potato salad, corn-on-thecob, blueberry buckle supper (eat-in or take-out) on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the church at 340 Oak Grove Ave.
The public supper is the formal “kick-off ” event which will benefit the newly established Dike-Newell School BackPack Program. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. All funds raised will go toward providing nutritious and easyto prepare food for hungry children who qualify for the BackPack Program.
The Bath UMC is working with the Good Shepherd Food Bank and several local organizations, and individual community members, to help ease hunger among school children starting at the Dike-Newell School beginning this school year. The goal is to expand the BackPack Program to other community schools in the future.
According to a news release from the church, “More than two out of three elementary age children at the elementary level in Bath qualify for either free or reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. That translates to more than 400 children, many of whom do not get a nutritious weekend meal. The children arrive at school on Monday mornings where teachers are forced to compete against hunger to get their student’s attention. Many Bath citizens are saying, ‘Enough!’”
Every $225 raised at the benefit supper and through donations will provide weekend food for one child for the entire school year.
Anyone who would like to join the committee is welcome. The group needs We are in need of assistance with grant writing, leadership by businesses and organizations to plan and sponsor fund-raisers, and the packing of BackPacks on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
For more information on how to participate, contact Pastor Neil Gastonguay at 443-4707, Irving or Brenda Ouellette at irvbren@gmail.com or 802- 673-2759, Cathy Leonard at 443-6541, Ken Young at 442- 8519, Letty Race at 443-6389, Myrtle Hicks at 443-7493 or Diane Moyer at dianemoyer@remax.net.
Donations to the Back- Pack Program can be mailed to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, P.O. Box 1807 Auburn, ME 04211-1807; or to the Bath United Methodist Church, 340 Oak Grove Ave., Bath, ME 04011. Please indicate “BATH, MAINE BACKPACK PROGRAM” on your check memo line.
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