05/31/2026
Food for Thought, 5/29/26 Update
📚🍎Food for Thought🍎📚
FPC-GC is a proud supporter of snack bags for kids in Scott County schools!
Food for Thought is a community-based project started in January 2025 by individuals in the community, in partnership with community groups, individuals, and FPC-GC.
***Community sponsors are sought for Fall 2026 snack bags!***
🍎Spring 2026 Snack Bags🍎
2026 Spring Statistics:
➡️ 19 total weeks since January 9, with a weekly increase to 148 bags per week on February 27, then 154 bags on March 20 (with 2 weeks off for spring break and snow): 2,276 bags
🍎Total Project Bags to Date: 8,410🍎
2025 Historical Stats:
➡️Spring Semester 2025: 2,120 snack bags distributed.
➡️Summer 2025, 9 Weeks: Thanks to a generous donation from a private individual we were able to continue snack bags throughout the summer! A huge thank you to all those who have and continue to support this important community project. Summer 2025 saw 9 weeks of snack bags distributions, with 990 bags distributed over Summer 2025.
➡️Fall 2025, 18 Weeks: The need for fall bags steadily increased from 110 to 122 to 133 bags (as of December 5) at the request of SCPS, bringing Fall 2025 count to 2,360 bags distributed.
➡️2025 Total: 5,470 bags
(1/16/25 -12/19/25)
A HUGE thank you to those supporting this worthwhile project in our community!!!
Where do the bags go?
🍎Food bags are distributed in ALL schools in Scott County by SCPS staff directly to students identified by school personnel.
🍎Support is needed to continue this program while long-term collaborations are established. Please reach out for more information or to support this program. We're planning to continue Food for Thought as long as possible! Thanks to an amazing outpouring of community support, we look forward to continuing to serve Scott County children. 🍎
🍎How can you help?
➡️Food for Thought is entirely funded by individual donations and grants. Your continued support is needed to ensure this project continues!
➡️We're thankful for partnerships with local Lions Clubs for helping establish this program, as well as First Presbyterian Church for hosting the packing and distribution site for the snack bags.
➡️Monetary donations will receive a donation receipt for tax purposes from First Presbyterian Church (DM for details). It costs approximately $650 to sponsor a week of food.
➡️Food Donations may be dropped off at First Pres at 12:15 pm on Sundays, or DM to coordinate. A list of needed items is posted below; all must be individually packaged. Bottled water and plastic utensil packs are also welcomed.
➡️Volunteers are also welcome to assist with packing each week OR to join this community effort as an organizer! DM for details!
➡️DM us here or contact Suzanne Kerney-Quillen for more information.
🍎Thanks to our team!🍎
Food for Thought is a grassroots community service project organized by private individuals, local Lions Clubs, Rotary of Scott County, Abingdon Presbytery, Scott County churches, and First Presbyterian Church in Gate City. Individuals from other organizations have also volunteered to assist, as well as support the project financially.
Huge appreciation goes to Keltie Baker Kerney, Mike Kerney, and local and regional Lions Clubs, Ashley Herron Blankenbeckler and Moon Tuxedo, Patricia Edwards, Tina Bowen, Jeremy Harr and Harr Farms, Brad Kim Christian and Gate City United Pentecostal Church, Fellowship Chapel Church in Ft. Blackmore, Abingdon Presbytery, Rotary Club of Scott County, Fischer Funeral Services, and all private individuals and businesses who have donated to help kick off and sustain this project!
A HUGE thank you to our faithful packing crew who made these packed bags possible throughout the year: Asher Elliott, Keltie Baker Kerney, Mike Kerney, Betty Mann, Cathy Parker, Bruce Parker, Rev. Tom Quickel, Weber City/Scott County & ETSU Lions, Scott County Rotarians, Carter's Fort Daughters of the American Revolution members, and Virginia Frontier Society CAR members.
Thank you to SCPS staff for ensuring these bags reach students in need!
Food for Thought is brain power!
📚🍎📚
