First Methodist Church and Backpack Buddies presented $1,000 to Clinton City Schools to purchase food for students during the 2026-27 school year at the Aug. 19 Board of Education meeting.
Joel Wise, associate pastor at First Methodist Church, shared some of the history behind Backpack Buddies in a phone interview. He explained that First Methodist has been involved with the program for 17 years.
The effort began in the home of Dr. Dave and Jean Kunzman, where their dining room table became a weekly packing table. Ann Herring also helped start the program after seeing Backpack Buddies featured in the news and thinking, “We need something like that here.”
Backpack Buddies is a food ministry that provides bags of nonperishable food items to Clinton City Schools students in pre-K through eighth grade for weekends and holidays. The program also provides funds to support food pantries at the middle and high schools.
Fundraisers have been held over the years to support the program. Wise said community support has included the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, various Clinton churches and individual anonymous donors.
The $1,000 presented to Clinton City Schools will support food pantries at the middle and high schools, Wise shared. The donation was divided into two $500 gift cards — one for Walmart and one for Food Lion — to purchase items needed for the pantries.
“We pack over 6,000 meals a year, 175 meals a week,” Wise explained. “Not necessarily to the same kids each week. We do not keep that record; the school guidance counselors do. We try to keep things as anonymous as possible to protect and to avoid embarrassment of a child.”
Wise stressed that there are opportunities for community members to become involved with Backpack Buddies.
“We are the facilitator, but we could not do it without the support of the other churches,” he shared. “We have several members from different churches and community groups that come together to pack and deliver meals.”
Wise explained that the program’s primary need is funding. First Methodist spends roughly $35,000 a year to keep the program operating, he said.
Jeff Swartz currently leads the program. When asked what Backpack Buddies needs, Swartz pointed first to the need the program is intended to address.
“Prayers that the community will no longer need this program,” Swartz said. “In the meantime, funds and items. Please contact the church for information on what items are needed.”
Those interested in supporting or learning more about Backpack Buddies can contact the First Methodist Church office at [email protected].