Syracuse, NY -- Pastor James Gebhardt has always believed in spreading a message beyond the pulpit into the community. He’ll put his good faith to use at the Father’s Heart Ministries backpack giveaway today. Hosted at the church’s North Side building, volunteers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will give away roughly 1,000 backpacks stuffed with free school supplies. The...
Syracuse, NY -- Pastor James Gebhardt has always believed in spreading a message beyond the pulpit into the community. He’ll put his good faith to use at the Father’s Heart Ministries backpack giveaway today.
Hosted at the church’s North Side building, volunteers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will give away roughly 1,000 backpacks stuffed with free school supplies.
The backpacks — totaling almost $5,000 in school supplies — have been divided for students in kindergarten to 12th grade. Backpacks will be stuffed with pencils, pens, rulers and notebooks.
"Each year we’re getting more and more people,” Gebhardt said. “A few years ago, it was raining and people were still standing outside, soaking wet, to get their backpacks.”
Now in its seventh year, giveaway organizers have taken on sponsors for the first time. Along with community donations, local businesses such as AXA Equitable and First Niagara Bank helped pay for backpack supplies.
This year’s giveaway also will provide free produce from Matthew 25 farms, a farm in Tully that donates fresh food to the needy and teaches community members how to grow their own crops.
Gebhardt said he hopes the produce and supplies will help people facing new economic hardships.
“This is no longer just for those in poverty collecting public assistance or Social Security,” Gebhardt said. “It is now your neighbor who is finding it difficult to make ends meet.”
Lyndra Vassar can be reached at 315-470-2259 or lvassar@syracuse.com.