Five area churches: Trinity Presbyterian, Bethany Presbyterian, The Chapel, Big Bend Methodist and Mercer Methodist participate in administering the Backpack program during the school year. The program provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for over 75 different elementary aged children when school lunch and breakfast are not unavailable on a weekend or school holiday. Trinity administers the program for four months during the school year with the help of many faithful dedicated volunteers who packed and delivered the food to the school. Amy Neugebauer is the school liaison and delivers the packs to the student’s rooms. Brenda Watson purchases the fool and delivers it to the church, Karen Crooks types and delivers the labels, and Cary Cooper serves as coordinator. Jean Buchanan serves as treasurer.
The above-mentioned churches have now formed an independent non-profit association known as the Mercer Area Backpack Association, a 503c entity, effective August 1, 2024. The program is essentially the same. This program is still run totally by volunteers and monetary donations from members and organizations in this community.