Published: November 24, 2009 08:26 pm      

Shimkus shows support for NOW Program

By RORYE O’CONNOR

rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Illinois 19th District Senator John Shimkus rolled up his sleeves to assist volunteers working with the NOW Backpack Program Tuesday afternoon, packing bags with oranges, apples, ramen noodles and other food.

The program, which is a partnership between Mt. Vernon City Schools District 80, the United Way of South Central Illinois and Park Avenue Baptist Church food pantry, provides meals over holiday breaks to more than 300 children who participate in the 21st Century Stars Academy, an after school program.

The backpack program is in its third school year, and backpacks with three meals a day are provided over nine long weekends in the school year, including Christmas break.

The backpacks, which were purchased by District 80 through a Service Learning grant, are reused throughout the school year.

Shimkus, other leaders in the community and several volunteers worked reverse assembly line style, walking around two tables to fill canvas bags in bright colors with fruit, vegetables and other staples to get students through the long holiday weekend.

“Any time it would be important,” Shimkus said. “In this day and age it affirms your belief in the American spirit of giving. It is faith-based and community-based. I think it’s what sets Americans apart — our willingness to give.”

Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley also participated in the backpack packing event Tuesday.

“I think it is fantastic for the city of Mt. Vernon,” Chesley said. “It is an example of need where various groups have united to service that need, where some of the younger population desperately need it.”

Michelle Lee, a teacher at District 80 schools, researched what it would take to start the program.

“I went to Kevin (Settle, District 80 superintendent) and Tyler (Brown, District 80 assistant superintendent) after I had done all the research and groundwork to get us going,” she said. “I talked to the United Way and they got us access to a food bank, so they could get food for us and store it. We went from 150 in the first year to 370 this year.”

Lee said though the program is only at District 80 right now, it is open to all school districts interested.

“We’d like to be able to do it for all kids, every weekend, that’s our long range goal,” she said. “We would like all areas to be involved.”

Leaders at Park Avenue Baptist Church were also looking to be involved in such a program before they were contacted by the United Way and District 80 schools, pastor Chuck Ellis said.

“Some of our ladies went to a missions event in Arkansas and heard about their programs there, and when they came back, they wanted to look into starting one here,” he said. “Michelle had already done all the legwork and we just had to plug in the logistics. We had the building and the training.”

Ellis said the program has a large impact on the students involved.

“The United Way did a portfolio of letters from children who are in the program,” he said. “It’s so touching, it brings tears to your eyes.”