Every Sunday during the school year, Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical research manager Ama Apenteng gathers with other members of Grace United Methodist Church to fill 50 bags with food for students at Tunbridge Elementary and Walter P. Carter Elementary School. The project is called the Elijah Backpack Program.

“It’s a blessing,” says Apenteng. “I believe that even though I don’t know the kids, I know that it is making a difference. Volunteering has made me see that I have to be grateful for what I have. I’m thankful that I’m able to eat three meals a day. Not everyone has that.”

 According to Ashley Antonsen, the community school director at Walter P. Carter Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore, the church members strive to include foods that kids actually want to eat. The program serves 35 Carter students and their families every week.

“The students are always excited whenever there’s a snack in there,” Antonsen says. “They love cookies and Goldfish crackers. One time, they had Reese’s cups, and that was very popular. One week, they included a whole loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly. It’s enough food to support their families for the weekend.”

Antonsen says the church members deliver the bags to the school on Thursdays, and distribution is first come, first served. 

“It helps reduce some of the barriers our families go through,” says Antonsen. “A lot of people need help. It’s important that partnerships like this exist because they can fill that gap. Sometimes the last meal a student gets is on Friday, and the next meal they get is on Monday.”

Apenteng says she started volunteering after she took a Baltimore Food Systems class while pursuing a master’s degree.

“We talked about food deserts and the lack of access to fresh food. When I joined the church, I found out they had a program that gives out food. It’s something I wanted to do to help people,” she says.

Apenteng says what stands out about the program is that the volunteers always show up.

“It shows the love and the dedication that everyone has,” she says. “Sometimes we take things for granted. If we have things sometimes, we assume everyone has them. Some people are struggling, and it makes me know that we may all be living in the same community, but there are gaps that need to be filled for some people.”

The Rev. Dr. Amy McCullough, lead pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Baltimore, says Apenteng is always warm, friendly and organized.

“She gets things done in a very cheerful and compassionate way,” McCullough says. “She always volunteers with a big smile.” 

Nancy Haile, who supervises the Elijah Backpack Program, says Apenteng is enthusiastic while volunteering and often has her children help, too. Haile says Apenteng’s accuracy is a real asset.

“Each week, we pack 50 bags of food. Each bag has to have the same thing, and Ama makes sure it is correct,” Haile says. “I wish everyone was as accurate, friendly and speedy as she is.”

Antonsen adds that the coolest thing about the entire process are the systems the church members have in place.

“They are so organized, from the shopping to the packing,” she says. “A weekend bag sounds simple, but the process is so much more than that. They are making each experience unique. The bag has been thoughtfully curated for the students and their families, and the impact is so much larger than they realize.”

For more information about the Elijah Backpack Program, visit https://graceunitedmethodist.org/outreach/elijah-backpack-ministry/