missioner in action / by Molly Williamson
Brother busy with food ministry More than 150 students fed thanks to backpack program assisted by Glenmarian
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ood insecurity is a common phrase around Bertie County, N.C., home to Glenmary’s Holy Spirit Mission. Bertie is one of the poorest counties in North Carolina. It has a high unemployment rate and low household median income. The number of low income students in the local school district is so high that the federal government pays for every student to eat breakfast and lunch at school. Yet, many students still go hungry, especially over the weekends. Two years ago, a group formed to address child hunger, and a key member of the team was Brother Virgil Siefker, who does outreach ministry in Bertie County. Over the last five years, his work has centered on nutrition, providing food to nearly 500 families per month through the Good Shepherd Food Pantry. “Most of the children rely on their families to take care of them, but the problem is they do not always know where they will be staying over the weekend or whether they will have food there,” Brother Virgil said. “Sometimes they are staying with their mother, other times with their father or their grandmother. This is a way to help them out over the weekend regardless of where they stay.”
The program costs $180 per child annually to maintain and provides each student a weekly package of two breakfasts, two lunches, healthy snacks and fresh fruit. A team of volunteers, including Brother Virgil and the Bertie County 4-H and Community Service Club, gathers every Thursday to divide prepackaged bags of food into grocery bags for each elementary student. The volunteers add fruit purchased at a discount from the local grocery store to give children healthy options. Then, the children’s teachers place the bags in their backpacks on Friday afternoons.
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photo / Tiera Beale
Feed the hungry: Brother Virgil Siefker, right, works with others to feed hungry students.
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Glenmary Challenge
Spring 2017
he program has centered on elementary school students for the last two years, but Bertie County Commissioner Ron Wesson, a founder of the backpack program, wants to eventually expand the program to include more schools and grade levels. “On the weekends, especially when you reach the end of the month and run out of money or run out of food stamps, there is a food shortage,” Ron said. “The small kids are the least able to fend for themselves, which is why we started with elementary students, but we have a need for all kids throughout our community.” So far, the program has fed 155 children in Bertie County’s four public schools and one charter school, and the committee hopes to expand the program to at least 175 children by the end of the academic year. The backpack program is completely run by volunteers like Brother Virgil. Growing the program is desperately needed, said Sandra Smith, Windsor Elementary School’s social worker. She and the other school counselors and social workers throughout the district identify the children most in need of the backpack program. The waiting list is extensive, and many children are desperate for food. “Many kids come up to me all week and tell me they are hungry, so we know they need the backpack,” Sandra said. “Starting on Monday, they ask me, ‘Am I going to get the backpack on Friday?’ Their little faces light up when they get it. They are so full of joy.” w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g