To the Journal editor:

Last year the annual Silver Creek Neighborhood Block Party received a makeover because of, well, 2020! With the safety of our community and volunteers in mind, we shifted from our usual neighborhood party style to a drive-thru event.

Now in our 15th year, we added one more change: a new name! The Silver Creek Neighborhood Block Party is now Backpack SOS (Support Our Students). Whether a neighborhood party or a drive-thru event, our mission has remained the same: support our students as they begin a new school year. The start of any new school year can be fraught with financial burdens of purchasing backpacks, school supplies, and clothing. Backpack SOS, which took place in August, gave families the opportunity to receive these much needed back-to-school items for their children.

With the support of 55 volunteers putting in over 400 hours of service, Silver Creek Church was able to provide 675 children with new backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits.

Each child also received a voucher for three outfits courtesy of Silver Creek Thrift and at least one pair of new socks!

We are so very grateful to the sponsors and supporters whose donations helped us make this community outreach possible. We would like to thank Community Foundation of Marquette County, the Walmart Foundation, Michaels, TOPS, Kerber Rose Wealth Management, and Silver Creek Thrift. Hygiene kits were made possible by the Michigan Dental Association Foundation and Marquette Breakfast Rotary. Bomba socks were provided by Rural Compassion, a division of Convoy of Hope.

On behalf of Silver Creek Church, I would like to say “thank you” to everyone who participated in some way to help make Backpack SOS possible. We appreciate each of you!

KAY BAMMERT

Marquette

Administrative Assistant,

Silver Creek Church

Backpack SOS Coordinator