Saint Francis Outreach backpack program serves its fourth year
Published 8:43 am Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Children assisted by the Saint Francis Outreach backpack program also received a blanket this Christmas time. Pictured from left: Annie Kleva, Jeanne Jourdan and Beth Mahar. (Submitted photo)
The Dowagiac Elks Lodge also made a donation in 2019 to Saint Francis Outreach’s backpack program to help fund the middle school program. From left: Grant Chair Susie Gendrin, Treasurer Ray Klomes, co-chairs Sue Ann Stewart and Lu Ann Scott and David Scott. (Submitted photo)
This was the first year, The Feed the Hungry Campaign also made a donation to Saint Francis Outreach’s backpack program. (Submitted photo)
Volunteers of Saint Francis Outreach’s backpack program loaded up a car to transport backpacks to students at Kincheloe Elementary School. (Submitted photo)
Dr. Jonathan Gillesby of Dowagiac Family Dentistry made a donation to Saint Francis Outreach’s backpack program to help fund the middle school program. (Submitted photo)
DOWAGIAC — Saint Francis Outreach, founded in 2015, is in its fourth year of its backpack program, which supplies students in need at Dowagiac Union’s four elementary schools and at Dowagiac Middle School with weekend meals. In its first year, the backpack program served about 25 students. This year, the program is donating 180 backpacks.
The program receives assistance from the Pokagon Fund, which has granted the program with $10,000 for the past three years. The Pokagon Fund is funded by the Potawatomi Indians. The Dowagiac Elks and Dr. Jonathan Gillesby, Sister Lakes Community Church and Feeding America have all made donations or volunteered. Local businesses in the community have also stepped up to help.
