2018 Christmas Backpack Goal: 40,000

This project will include children and teens ages:  4-7 years, 8-10 years, and 11-15 years residing in Appalachia as well as in the most poverty stricken counties in Southwest Georgia. All Georgia Baptist churches can help meet the physical and spiritual needs of these children and teens by participating  in meeting this goal.

Registration is required.

Registration is required to receive the necessary printed materials to be sent, as well as for planning and tracking purposes. Click on the “Start Here” tab to begin.

Start Here

Thank you for your interest in collecting backpacks for children and teens in need. Please review the following information as some details could have changed from the previous year.

• Register your participation in the Christmas Backpacks project
  Begin Registration
• Backpacks AND the contents need to be NEW.
• Review the new guidelines and gift suggestions for packing a backpack found on the “Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions” on the Resources tab.
• Backpacks need to be packed in medium (18x18x16) size boxes.  (These boxes can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, or a shipping/packing store.)
• Boxes need to be securely taped on the top and bottom, not just folded.
• The “Christmas Story” will be mailed to you to be placed in each backpack.
• New this year – each backpack must be securely tied with a “Gender” AND “Age” ribbon as directed on the “Key” which is located on the “Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions” found on the Resources tab.
• If you adopt a ministry site, it is essential that you arrange transport of your backpacks to that site with the designated leader for that site.  The contact information for the designated leader of the site will be provided on your registration confirmation.
• Timing- It is entirely up to you when you choose to promote and collect the backpacks.  Please keep in mind that if you put candy or food in the backpacks, you don’t need to collect them too early (check all expiration dates). Absolutely no chocolate or other candy that melts!

Delivery Options

1. Destination

A.  Backpacks may be collected and taken to a location you already have a partnership with within Appalachia or Georgia.  (Online registration is still required.)

B.  You may adopt a ministry site through the list on the online registration form.  (You can view the available sites prior to registering by clicking the “Ministry Sites to Adopt” on the Resources tab.)

C.  You may take your collected backpacks to the Georgia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting or to one of other collection sites in the state.  These backpacks will fill the unmet needs at sites that have not been adopted.

2. Transportation:  Backpacks will only be picked up at the sites in Georgia listed below (C.).

A.  If you adopt a ministry site, you assume the responsibility of transporting your backpacks to that site.

B.  If you choose to let the Georgia Baptist Mission Board use your backpacks to fill unmet needs in Appalachia and Georgia, you may either:

C.  Take them to one of the sites in Georgia:

• Georgia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Second Baptist Church – 2504 Moody Road, Warner Robins
  Sunday, November 11:  2:00 – 7:00 PM
  Monday, November 12:  9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  Tuesday, November 13:  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Corinth Baptist Church – 43 Rockmart Road, Bremen
  Thursday – Saturday, November 1 – 3:  9 AM – 12 PM and 5 PM – 8 PM each day
• Daniell Baptist Association – 205 SW Railroad Street, Ailey
  Monday – Wednesday, November 5 – 7:  9 AM – 2:30 PM each day
• Indian Creek Baptist Church – 11091 Old Federal Road, Carnesville
  Tuesday – Thursday, November 6 – 8:  9 AM – 12 PM each day
• Trinity Baptist Church – 1170 Rome Road, Calhoun
  Monday – Wednesday, November 5 – 7:  9 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM each day

D. Contact Stuart Lang to arrange pick-up and transportation of the backpacks ONLY if one of the options above is not possible:  backpacks@gabaptist.org.  (For logistical scheduling, all requests must be received by October 26, 2018, for pickup the week of November 5.)

FAQ

Q:  Why did the name change to Christmas Backpacks?
A:  Because the backpack project is now under the Appalachian Mountain Ministry of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.  Bill Barker remains as the Director of this ministry.

Q:  What’s our goal for 2018?
A:  40,000!  We encourage you to set a goal for your church and/or association.

Q:  What is my first step to participate in Christmas Backpacks?
A:  Review all the tabs on this website for the guidelines and basic information.  Then click here to register your participation.

Q:  If I am already partnering with a ministry site, do I still need to register?
A:  YES.  This will help us ensure that all sites requests are being met and will prompt the mailing of the required printed materials to you that go in each backpack.

Q:  Are there any changes to the Christmas Backpack project for 2018?
A:  Yes, there are two:

1. There is an updated flyer with the new details of what should go in each backpack.  The flyer is called “Christmas Backpacks Gift Suggestions” and is located on the Resources tab.
2. Instead of a backpack tag, this year each backpack will need two ribbons tied to them – a Gender ribbon (Blue or Pink) and an Age ribbon (Yellow = Ages 4-7, Green = Ages 8-10, or Red = Ages 11-15).   The ribbons will need to be provided and tied to each backpack by the person supplying the backpack.  The drop-off sites will not have ribbons available.

Q:  Who do I contact if I need more of the “Christmas Story”?
A:  Email your request to backpacks@gabaptist.org.

Q:  Can we help with the distribution of backpacks at the ministry site?
A:  Yes.  One of the options is for you to adopt a site for personal involvement.

Q:  What areas are Georgia Baptists focusing on?
A:  In Georgia, Kentucky, New York,  and Tennessee.  In Southwest Georgia:  Locations in Bethel Baptist Association and Summerhill Baptist Association.

Q:  I’d like to adopt a site but don’t think I can handle transportation of the backpacks that far.  What do I do?
A:  Since one of the criteria of adopting a site is to deliver the backpacks to that site, your best option would be to either bring your backpacks to one of the collection sites in Georgia or contact Stuart Lang (backpacks@gabaptist.org) to arrange for them to be picked up.  Keep in mind that all backpacks that come through the Georgia Baptist Mission Board collection sites will be used to fill the gaps.  If you bring your backpacks to one of our collection sites, we cannot guarantee which ministry site they will go to.  (For logistical scheduling, all requests must be received by October 26, 2018, for pick up the week of November 5.)

Q:  I can’t find anyone in my association to take the backpacks to one of the collection sites.
A:  Contact Stuart Lang (backpacks@gabaptist.org) for all logistical questions in getting backpacks to the annual meeting.   (For logistical scheduling, all requests must be received by October 26, 2018, for pick up the week of November 5.)

Q:  Can I put a Bible in the backpack?
A:  Absolutely. (Recommended version:  God’s Word.  Other versions:  Holman Christian Standard, NEW King James, any other easy to read version, or King James.)

Q:  Where can I find a list of ministry sites to consider adopting?  How do I adopt a ministry site?
A:  Go to the Resources tab to view the “Ministry Sites to Adopt” list.  When you have chosen a ministry site, register your participation and choice by clicking here.

Q:  I want to adopt a ministry site but can’t fill the quota that they’re asking for.  Is that okay?
A:  Yes.  When registering your participation, list how many backpacks you can commit to supply for that ministry site.

Q:  Other than putting a copy of “The Christmas Story”, tying a Gender and Age ribbon to each bag, and packing and sealing them in medium size packing boxes (18x18x16), is there anything else we need to do on our end?
A:  No.  All other processing will be done at the ministry sites.

Q:  Can I help receive backpacks at the Georgia Baptist Annual Meeting?
A:  Absolutely.  Please let Patty Ficarra know of your interest at backpacks@gabaptist.org.

Q:  What time can backpacks be dropped off at the Annual Meeting?
A:  Sunday, November 11:  2:00 – 7:00 PM
Monday, November 12:  9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, November 13:  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Q:  Where are the other collection sites in Georgia and when may I take backpacks to them?
A:

• Corinth Baptist Church – 43 Rockmart Road, Bremen
  Thursday – Saturday, November 1 – 3:  9 AM – 12 PM and 5 PM – 8 PM each day
• Daniell Baptist Association – 205 SW Railroad Street, Ailey
  Monday – Wednesday, November 5 – 7:  9 AM – 2:30 PM each day
• Indian Creek Baptist Church – 11091 Old Federal Road, Carnesville
  Tuesday – Thursday, November 6 – 8:  9 AM – 12 PM each day
• Trinity Baptist Church – 1170 Rome Road, Calhoun
  Monday – Wednesday, November 5 – 7:  9 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM each day

Q:  Who do I contact if I have any questions about the Christmas Backpacks Project?
A:  Please email all questions and needs to backpacks@gabaptist.org.  Your email will be routed to the appropriate person to respond.  If after you have emailed you feel you need to speak with someone directly, please contact one of the following:  Patty Ficarra (General and Logistics Questions) at 770-936-5254, Emily Hill (General Questions) at 770-936-5219, or Jackie Cooper (General Questions) at 770-936-5222.