Need for Backpacks is Back!

To: Episcopalians in East Tennessee (and beyond)

From: Patty Chase, Diocesan Coordinator for Appalachian School Supplies Project

On a recent visit to White Oak school in Campbell County in East Tennessee, I was invited into a third grade classroom. I was surprised and delighted to see several familiar faces. Some of the children who had received school supplies collected by our Episcopal Churches were excited to show me what they were studying and to tell their classmates about receiving their back packs from me. During my visit each child insisted on shaking my hand and then introduced me to their class mates. Their eyes communicated such hope and their handshakes such love that I could hardly make it out of the room before the tears began to flow.

This year at my request the Diocesan Appalachian Ministries Resource Team has set a new goal— fill 600 back packs to be distributed among the 15 schools in Campbell County. Your response last year to this project was so warm and enthusiastic that we were able give away well over 400 backpacks filled with supplies, and we received numerous calls and letters thanking us for the opportunity to participate. It is the hope of the Appalachian Ministries Resource Team that with all of our churches working together we can provide 600 children with school supplies as they begin the new school year this fall.

Appalachian School Supplies 2001 is an opportunity for mission and mission education in our churches. It provides us with hands on outreach to share God's bounty with less fortunate children who are our neighbors.

Supply List

Appalachian School Supplies 2001
Can you imagine having to choose between buying food for the table or school supplies for your children? The need cannot be over stressed. We have neighbors in East Tennessee who live with poverty so extreme that come August, they will again face this decision. Together we can make a difference!

Six hundred filled backpacks is the goal of the Appalachian Ministries Resource Team for distribution to disadvantaged children in 15 Campbell County schools. This project is initiated by an agency called “Aid to Distressed Families in Appalachian Counties” (ADFAC). Patty Chase is the ADFAC volunteer in charge of school supplies for Campbell County and is our Diocesan Coordinator for this outreach ministry.

Suggestions for involving congregations in this mission effort:

• Make this the mission offering for your Vacation Bible School
• Invite parents and children to fill a backpack for Appalachia when they do their own school shopping
• Make this a Youth Group summer project
  Offer this project to the ECW, the Men’s Group or Brotherhood of St. Andrew
• Challenge the Outreach Committee with this Mission
• Designate a Sunday worship service and have an ingathering for and blessing of backpacks and monetary offerings
• Individual and corporate offering should be made payable to ADFAC and sent to: Diocesan House, Attn: Mary Berl, 401 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37902

To ensure timely delivery, drop your filled backpacks at any of the following sites PRIOR TO JULY 30:

• South East:
  St. Martin, 7547 E. Brainard Rd., Chattanooga, 423-892-9131
• Upper East:
  St. Christopher, 584 Lebanon Rd., Kingsport 423-239-6751
• Middle East:
  St. James, 1101 N. Broadway, Knoxville 865-521-2900

If you need to arrange a pick up during the period of July 16-30, call Carolyn Dicer at 865-521-2900 or Patty Chase at 865-524-0551.

Supply Lists:
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Primary Grades (k-2)

• Backpack (clear, smaller size)
• #2 Pencils (10/pk.)
• Extra Erasers
• Pencil Box (clear plastic)
• Glue Sticks - Elmer School (3/pk.)
• Crayons (24/ box)
• Scissors (blunt style)
• One-Subject Composition Book (100 sheets)
• Pocket Folders

Intermediate Grades

• Backpack (clear)
• #2 Pencils (10/pk.)
• Extra Erasers
• Pencil Box (clear plastic)
• Blue/Black Pens(10/pk.)
• Three-Ring Binder(cloth or vinyl)
• Three-Ring Notebook Paper(100 sheets)
• Supply Pouch for 3-Ring Binder
• Three-Subject Composition Book
• One-Subject Composition Book
• Ruler(Plastic)
• Markers-Hiliter(4/pk.)
• Glue Sticks-Elmer's School(3/pk.)
• Pocket Folders

Middle and High School

• Backpack (clear)
• #2 Pencils (10/pk.)
• Pencils Colored (24 colors/pk.)
• Blue/Black Pens(10/pk.)
• Three-Ring Binder(cloth or vinyl)
• Three-Ring Notebook Paper(200 sheets)
• Supply Pouch for 3-Ring Binder
• Five-Subject Composition Book
• Ruler(Plastic)
• Pocket Folders

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