Trimble Backpack Initiative

Jared Butcher, a professor emeritus of chemistry from Ohio University, helped launched Trimble’s Pride Pack program at the start of the 2015-16 school year. When he heard about food insecurity in Athens County, he wanted to do something about it.

“I thought, ‘We should have one of these in every school in the county,’” Butcher said. “I like the idea of feeding kids on the weekend.”

The project was a success, and became the pilot program for spreading the backpack program to other schools in the county. Nelsonville Food Cupboard now operates a backpack program for Nelsonville-York Local Schools. Athens City Schools and the Federal Hocking Local School District both operate school pantries, while the Alexander Local School District operates a similar program called “Blessings in a Backpack.”

We would welcome your participation in this program through any means you choose, whether financial or through prayers.

If you would like to donate to Athens First United Methodist Church’s Trimble Backpack Initiative, there are two ways that you can. You can either send a check directly to Athens First United Methodist Church at 2 South College Street Athens OH 45701 with “Trimble Backpack” on the memo or, you may donate online by clicking here. This page will ask you to create an account, but there will be a specific category for the Trimble Backpack Initiative. All funds received designated to Trimble Backpack Initiative will go directly towards funding this ongoing project.

*Some of this information is taken from an Athens Messenger article from November 19, 2017.