2023 Backpack Collection in Progress
Faith Lutheran Church
For the fifteenth consecutive year, Faith Lutheran Church in New Providence is collecting new backpacks and school supplies to be shared with St. Stephan’s Grace in Newark’s Ironbound, our Mission Partner congregation, and with school children in Plainfield through the Second Street Youth Center.
The backpack collection began as an idea brought up at a church council meeting but quickly grew into a full-fledged ministry spanning more than a decade. Multiple community organizations have received backpacks from Faith’s collection over the years.
Backpacks don’t often last from year to year and supplies always need replenishing. The aim of Faith Lutheran’s collection is to make sure that local kids have items they need for a successful start to the 2023-2024 school year.
The community is invited to support the backpack collection. There are several ways to help.
You can purchase a new backpack of your choice and fill it with the following school supplies: one pack pens; one pack pencils; one notebook; one box of 24 crayons; one package of construction paper; one pair of safety scissors; one glue stick; one ruler; one small pencil sharpener; one toothbrush; one tube of toothpaste.
You can drop off a new backpack, or any of the above individual supplies, and we will fill a backpack.
Items can be dropped off at Faith Lutheran in the marked green bin found underneath the sheltered alcove by the main doors at the bottom of the parking lot.
You can mail a financial gift made payable to Faith Lutheran Church with “backpacks” in the memo line of your check and we will shop for you.
The deadline for individual supply donations is August 20th, to ensure enough time to assemble the remaining backpacks. The deadline for completed, filled backpacks is Sunday, August 27th.
In 2022, Faith collected and distributed 200 backpacks. This year, the goal is to reach 250.
To learn more about Faith Lutheran Church, visit famfaith.org. Faith Lutheran worships on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with livestreaming available on our website, Facebook, and YouTube. We practice an open Communion table, and all are welcome.
The church phone number is 908-464-5177 and the address is 524 South Street, New Providence, 07974. The pastor of Faith is Rev. Jane McCready.
