What Is Micah’s Backpack?
Micah’s Backpack is a partnership between Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC), the Maryland Food Bank, and many local congregations and organizations. The program provides individual students with a bag of healthy, shelf-stable food every Friday to help them through the weekend. Originally brought to Washington County in 2010 by Trinity Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, it now serves more than 1,200 students in 37 schools, including right here in Williamsport.
At Zion, we help collect food, pack bags, and support Williamsport-area schools with these essential resources. For many children, a Micah’s Backpack bag means having enough to eat until school meals resume on Monday.
How It Works
Each Friday, school staff discreetly distribute food-filled bags to students identified as food-insecure. A typical bag includes single-serving items such as:
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Cereal or oatmeal packets
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Fruit cups or applesauce
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Soup or canned pasta
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Peanut butter and crackers
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Ramen noodles or mac & cheese cups
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Shelf-stable milk or juice
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Tuna or canned meat
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Vegetables and other nutritious options
These meals are selected to be kid-friendly, nutritious, and easy to prepare without adult assistance.
How Students Are Chosen
Eligible students are identified by school staff—such as counselors or social workers—and participation is kept confidential. A signed permission slip is required for elementary students to join the program. For middle and high school students experiencing homelessness or transitional housing, permission slips are not required in order to allow flexibility and immediate support.
Our Role at Zion Lutheran Church
As a sponsoring congregation, Zion:
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Collects food donations from church members and the community
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Provides financial support to help purchase additional food
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Packs weekly bags for distribution
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Prays for the children and families receiving this nourishment
We believe this ministry is a tangible expression of Christ’s call to care for our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable among us—our children.
How You Can Help
We welcome donations of kid-friendly, non-perishable food such as:
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Instant oatmeal packets
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Pop-Tarts
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Chicken ramen noodles
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Mac and cheese cups
Donations can be placed in the marked bin at church or monetary contributions can be made directly to Zion Lutheran Church with "Micah’s Backpack" in the memo line. Volunteers are also welcome to help with packing and organizing food.
Together, we are making a difference—one backpack at a time.
