Littleton Church Members Provide Food for Backpack Distribution Events

By Carol Gibbs, Littleton Stake & Corey Christiansen, Denver Region Media Specialist

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Littleton contributed some much-needed food as part of recent backpack distribution events. The events were the Salvation Army School Backpack Distribution Day and the Cherry Creek Centennial Backpack Distribution Heart for Schools Event.

On Saturday, August 3, the Salvation Army in Centennial distributed 700 backpacks to local children in need while church members served 500 hot dogs. The following day, Lt. Poasa Vesikula from the Salvation Army along with his team took the van to Centennial Park and served another 250 people. The Iron Sharp Foundation assisted in distributing 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to children in Cherry Creek Schools. Additionally, Little Public Schools received 500 backpacks for further distribution.

Littleton Stake member Carol Gibbs attended the event at the park on August 4 and witnessed firsthand the positive impact it had on the community. She said the children were thrilled to receive new backpacks from event sponsors and new shoes from the street ministry Wholly Kicks. Two brothers were especially excited about their “AND1” shoes. When she asked an incoming sixth grader about her favorite part of the day, she joyfully mentioned the beef tacos. Her favorite part of life, she shared, was her family.

Gibbs also met a young family who had recently arrived in the United States from Moscow. Though they appeared both amazed and overwhelmed, it was heartening to see their children receiving much-needed supplies.

Gibbs said volunteering at this event was rewarding and fun and she thanks everyone involved for their invaluable support. For anyone interested in joining Gibbs next year, watch for an event link on JustServe.

#UpliftColorado