Adopt-A-School Committee gives to HOPE’s backpack program

September 11, 2019
Photo by Jessica Payne
Pictured from left, are Jacksonville Chamber President Peggy Renfro, Vance Royon, Janis Adams, HOPE Administrator Ellann Johnson, Pam Anderson and Dale Jamerson.  The group shows off the donation the Chamber recently presented to HOPE. Photo by Jessica Payne
Pictured from left, are Jacksonville Chamber President Peggy Renfro, Vance Royon, Janis Adams, HOPE Administrator Ellann Johnson, Pam Anderson and Dale Jamerson. The group shows off the donation the Chamber recently presented to HOPE.

The Jacksonville Chamber’s Adopt-A-School committee members recently presented HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Enrichment) Inc. Administrator Ellann Johnson with a check for $585 to sponsor children in the HOPE Backpack program.
This program provides food for the weekends to nutritionally challenged children. Students selected for the program have been identified by teachers, nurses or counselors at each campus as being too hungry to learn when they return to school on Mondays.
HOPE officials purchase the backpacks and food products from the East Texas Food Bank, and a full backpack is sent home with the student each Friday.
Identities are kept confidential so that participants are not embarrassed or singled out. This program serves Jacksonville ISD, as well as New Summerfield ISD.

School counselors have a waiting list of students who qualify for the program.

To sponsor a child or children, call the HOPE Center at (903) 586-7781, or visit www.hopecenter.info.

The Jacksonville Chamber Adopt-A-School committee raises funds through events like the upcoming Driven to Give, at Bill McRae Ford Lincoln, hotdog suppers, goody baskets and raffles.

Funds benefit programs like the HOPE Backpack program, Back to School Fair, JISD campuses and scholarships.

Serving on the Adopt-A-School committee are Tom Trimble, Chairman of the Board; Patty Rivers, Chair-elect; Pam Anderson, Education Division Chair; Vance Royon, Chair; and committee members Patsy McLeod, Susan Phillips, Judy Terry, Janis Adams, Linette Allen, Sarah Stephens, Shannon Hitt, Dale Jamerson, Anne Farmer and Katie Royon.