WORCESTER - Some children heading to school this fall will be carrying backpacks donated Tuesday to St. John's Food for the Poor.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care donated 100 backpacks stuffed with notebooks, binders, pens, pencils and other school supplies to the food pantry at 20 Temple St. The full packs will be donated to children from families who might not be able to afford their own supplies.
Greg Byrne of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care said his company's employees volunteer to do community service each year. One of the projects was to fill 1,000 backpacks to be distributed throughout New England to children in shelters or whose families received assistance at food pantries.
"We chose St. John's Food for the Poor because for years our Worcester regional office has done volunteer work here at the food pantry, serving breakfast," he said. "We identified there was a need because there were a lot of small children coming through here."
Billy Riley, who runs the food pantry in conjunction with St. John Roman Catholic Church, said the backpacks are a welcome addition to what St. John's offers people. He said that along with individuals who visit to have breakfast or lunch, organizers see the elderly and young families with children.
"This gives us an opportunity to give them school supplies they might not otherwise get," he said.
Mr. Riley estimated that 5,000 children visit the food pantry throughout the year. He said the pantry serves many homeless and needy families in Worcester and the region. He said breakfasts are offered beginning at 7 a.m., allowing children to get a good meal to start their day.
