This 5K Race Was Quite an Operation

The third Annual Operation Backpack 5K gets started in Riverfront Park

Blogger's Note: Once again, the lazy staff at The Digital Notebook is indebted to FOB John Armato for another timely submission.

On Saturday, April 14, 2012 the 3rd Annual Operation Backpack 5K took place at Pottstown’s Riverfront Park.

The event benefited Pottstown School District children in all five elementary schools, and the Pottstown Middle School, who suffer from a lack of healthy food choices at home.

During the school day these children receive free breakfast and lunch at school, but on the weekends they often go hungry. Thanks to Operation Backpack, backpacks of nutritious food are sent home with the children every Friday so that they can have food on the weekends.

Members of the team from Rupert Elementary School

This year’s event raised over $4,000 to directly support these children in the Pottstown School District.

Staff and families from Rupert Elementary and Edgewood Elementary School were happy to participate in this year’s 5K race.

Members of the Rupert Staff and their Family who participated: Principal Matthew Moyer, Cindy Bartolucci, Deb Gratzinger, Mike Gratzinger, Sherry Shank, Deb McNamara, Tess McNamara, Natalie Pileggi, Jayne Pollock, Amy Piskai, Sarah Noska, Emily Britton, and Mrs. Schlear.

Members of the Rupert PTA who participated: Tammie Scavello, Danielle Butterfield, Julia Wilson, Jim Wilson, and Kim Stilwell.

Members of the team from Edgewood Elementary School

Members of the Edgewood Staff who participated: Principal Calista Boyer, Treena Ferguson, Denise Schleicher, Deb Seidl, Darla Stoudt, Marie Anders, and Chris Poole.

In Pennsylvania, 13.8% of children live in poverty, and more than 60% of students in Pottstown qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches. Many of these students also are considered chronically hungry.

Operation Backpack provides hungry students with much needed food for the weekend. The purpose is to give the students a sense of hope and to communicate their value by addressing the tangible need of hunger.

TTLM works with individuals and organizations to gather donated food and supplies. Volunteers use these items to fill backpacks distributed to qualifying students at the end of each week.

 The backpacks protect the students’ confidentiality, and they are discretely returned on Mondays so the process can start over. Each backpack contains food for approximately seven meals: dinner for Friday night, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Saturday and Sunday.