The Gerry Free Methodist Church youth group recently donated 75 backpacks to the G.A. Family Services Foster Care and community-based programs just before school. Pictured from left are Larry Petry, Gerry Free Methodist Church youth and associate pastor; Megan Lockwood; Josh Lockwood; Shannon Lockwood, secretary; Anna Wenger; Esaac Wenger; and Lydia Petry. Submitted photo

Getting back to school will be a little easier for 75 children across the area, thanks to the Gerry Free Methodist Church Youth Group.

Recently, members of the group made the trek to donate 75 backpacks with school supplies to G.A. Family Services Foster Care and community-based programs just in time for the upcoming school year. Ericka Garcia, Jamestown program manager, said the backpacks will benefit children in foster care, post-adoption families – which covers when a child has been adopted – and afterschool programs.

“They all really need school supplies,” Garcia said. “A lot of our post-adoption families have more than five kids, so it’s a lot to get school supplies for everybody.”

Garcia said the youth group organized the collection of the items. Last Sunday, the group had all the supplies together and, in between services, the parishioners filled the backpacks. The group and their leaders then checked over each bag and put a personalized note in each one, Garcia said.

“We really feel the love and support of the community when a congregation that has about 100 people gives 75 backpacks,” she said. “It’s a big deal. That means everyone in their congregation was involved in making this happen.”

The bags will be distributed from the office or be delivered by a staff member. The idea is to make sure that the kids get the backpacks before school starts, Garcia said.

“Our caseworkers go out to see kids, so a lot of them will be traveling around with backpacks for the next couple of days,” she said.

This is the third year that the church has donated backpacks and supplies. The first year, the church donated 25 backpacks, and the need has grown over the years, so the number of backpacks donated has also increased. Garcia said the program is thankful for the helpful donation and the effort on the part of the youth group and its leaders to make it possible.

G.A. Family Services Foster Care has certified foster homes serving both traditional and therapeutic children of all ages. Garcia said there are 20 foster homes in the area that are served out of the Jamestown office, but there are offices all across Western New York. The post-adoption program serves about 40 kids in the area, she said.

“If you have an adopted child and you want to be part of those programs, it’s the same phone number, give us a call and we do all of that,” Garcia said. “Ask for myself or pretty much anyone can give you information about what we do.”

G.A. Family Services Foster Care is located at 515 W. Fifth St. in Jamestown and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 708-6161.