The Impact of a Backpack Packer

One of the best things about working with Sowers4Pastors, versus a larger mission organization, is the transparency. When you donate money, time, or material goods, you actually get to see how that donation is used and the impact it has. Today, we all get a chance to see the impact made by Suzie Kelly, the Super Colossal Backpack Zealot. In a recent phone call, Allen and Trish offered a follow-up so we can all see how all of those backpacks are being used.

For starters, Allen and Trish both talked about the excellent quality of the backpacks packed by Suzie and her family. These gems are being passed out to sponsored children whose sponsors didn’t have the opportunity to send personalized backpacks.You see, Sowers4Pastors will provide backpacks full of basic supplies to every sponsored child. However, a lot of sponsors want to do something more personal. They send phenomenal backpacks full of toys, clothing, and even gifts for siblings. Those phenomenal backpacks can make the basic supplies look disappointing. (Imagine a Christmas morning where you are comparing school supplies to your friend’s fun, new toys.) But, because of Suzie’s efforts, no child has to feel disappointed by a backpack with little “Wow!” factor.

Suzie’s backpacks are also being handed out at the new Manna 4 Lempira feeding center in Quelacasque. The children at this center were only made available for sponsorship a few months ago. Even though most of the children are now sponsored, the new sponsors did not have time to fill personalized backpacks. Almost all of those children are receiving backpacks filled by Suzie!

The Sowerses could have waited several months to open the Quelacasque center. That way, all of the sponsors would have been able to provide backpacks or donations by the time the next backpack drive rolls around. But, by starting now, the kids get to go to school THIS YEAR! They get to receive school supplies and shoes NOW!

Okay, it’s time for some more of that transparency mentioned earlier. Some people wonder what happens to all of the money from the sponsorship payments, if people are donating to buy supplies for backpacks and some sponsors donate personalized backpacks. Where is the money going? Part of the money is used to purchase the empty backpacks and some of the supplies used to fill Suzie’s extraordinary backpacks. Some of it is used to cover the costs for children who are registered in the program, but do not have sponsors. The Sowerses have long said that even non-sponsored kids benefit from the sponsorship program. They benefit by receiving much needed school supplies. And, ultimately, any money left over is used to purchase food for the feeding centers - including the many feeding centers (more than 100) that aren't even in the sponsorship program at all! We hope that level of transparency will be beneficial for everyone!

 - posted by Christi
 - all of the photos in this post were taken at the Quelacasque sponsorship center