wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Backpack project is a hit

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7699 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Backpack project is a hit
GA03004

Backpack project is a hit

School supplies will go to needy children in Afghanistan, U.S.

by Nancy D. Borst

DENVER, May 24  If you ask for them, they will come.

	In the case of Backpacks for Children, what has come is a flood
tide  of packs ranging from large to small, from Winnie the Pooh to
Barbie, from three zippered pockets to 10.

	This Assembly-related effort to help disadvantaged school children at
home and abroad exploded into an outpouring of compassion even before the
official opening of the 215th General Assembly.

	By Saturday night, more than 400 backpacks  and more than 600 pounds
of school supplies to go in them  had been collected at the project booth in
Lobby B of the Colorado Convention Center.

	The project, coordinated by the Committee on Local Arrangements
(COLA), was inspired by an international effort launched by Denver
businessman Abbas Rajabi, who wanted to help Afghan children after the fall
of the Taliban regime in 2002. 

	Rajabi set a goal of sending a million backpacks to Afghanistan to be
distributed to some of the more than 11 million school-age children in the
country. Last year he asked the Rotary Club of Southeast Denver, of which he
was president, to give life to his vision. The project became Pencils for
Peace. An initial shipment of 5,000 backpacks reached Afghanistan in early
April.

	The Presbyterian Church (USA), through COLA, will be collecting
backpacks and school supplies through Friday, and storing them at Denvers
Central Presbyterian Church.

	Response to the project has caught even its organizers off-guard.

	We were looking for a new project to build enthusiasm for mission at
General Assembly, said Carolyn Gabbard, who co-chairs the project with Karen
Williams. Also, the moderator (Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel) has urged us all along
to be mindful of mission to other countries, particularly children. We
expected people would tie in to this, but we were amazed at how they have
tied in.

	Gabbard said a Montana pastor had a carton of 25 backpacks shipped to
his Assembly hotel, and plans to deliver a few to the booth each day. A
presbytery shipped a duffel bag full of school supplies. A large carton
arrived from Alabama. And a 60-member Colorado church donated 16 packs
already filled with supplies.

	I have had emails from people all over the country about how they
can tie in to his, Gabbard said.   

	Half of the backpacks collected during GA will be passed along to the
Rotary Club for its Afghanistan project. The other half will be divided
equally among nine Denver-area agencies, including two mission projects
supported by Denver Presbytery: Denver Inner-City Parrish, a private school
for low-income children, and Home of Neighborly Service, which offers a
Christian after-school program.

	First Presbyterian Church of Leadville, CO., will distribute the
materials to poor children in nearby mountain areas.  

	Everyone is encouraged to donate backpacks and school supplies.
Gabbard said organizers would rather not accept financial donations, but can
suggest downtown stores that sell appropriate items. Supplies are welcome and
needed for children of all ages, from grade school through high school. None
of the items should have religious or medical markings of any kind.

	One of the projects advantages is that overseas shipping will be
handled by the Rotary Club.

	It was a no-brainer, Gabbard said. We collect them, the Rotary
picks them up and ships them.

	She said a few Presbyterians have asked why the church is supporting
a project sending materials to a predominantly non-Christian country. 

	We just have to do what we can do, when we can do it, she said.
Children are the same everywhere  and these children need our help.

*** For instructions on using this system (including how to UNJOIN this
meeting), send e-mail to mailrequests@ecunet.org
------------------------------------------
Send your response to this article to pcusa.news@pcusa.org

------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an 'unsubscribe' request to

pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org