On Thursday, August 23, Chowan University Campus Ministry will host Chowan Cares at the Jenkins Center on the Chowan campus at 5pm. In partnership with Ahoskie Food Bank and the Chowan Rotaract Club, Campus Ministry will pack Backpack Buddies for the children of Riverview Elementary and other area schools. 

Each backpack will be filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food and distributed to children to take home over the weekend. This program is designed to provide healthy food to children who might otherwise go without it at home.

Drew Phillips, Associate Minister to the University stated, “According to the UNC Center on Poverty Work and Opportunity, Hertford and Halifax counties had the highest poverty rates in the eastern part of the state, 9% higher than the state average. Census Data from 2010 shows North Carolina had the 11th highest child poverty rate in the nation. The needs of our local communities are many and we have the opportunity to help.”

Many children participate in free and reduced food programs throughout the area. However, these programs only operate Monday-Friday.  The Backpack Buddies program will provide two breakfasts and two lunches to ensure children return to school on Monday morning ready to learn without the added stress and distraction of hunger. The bags will also include handwritten notes of encouragement from Chowan students. 

“We are excited to help lighten the burden of some of the local issues of food insecurities,” said Mari Wiles, Minister to the University.

Through Chowan Cares, Campus Ministry encourages students to be mindful, thankful, and serve. Students are challenged to consider ways that groups and organizations (classes, clubs, ministries, fraternities/sororities, departments, teams) can help the greater community by serving others and are emboldened to carry those ideas out. To get involved, please contact Mari Wiles at 252-398-6268 or wilesm@chowan.edu.