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F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E | 3 7 AT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL GEORGIA HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO Rising demand isn't limited to that one instance. Lambert said at the end of last school year, volunteers were serving 1,200 students compared to the current 1,878 – an increase of 678 students. Lambert said it takes more than 200 volunteers to get the job done every week. Volunteer hours spent packing, getting food to schools and handing it out add up to more than 60 hours. "The church provides the house and other things, but we're not part of the church budget," Lambert said. " We depend strictly on donations, grants and giving from individuals, groups, organizations, anyone." How can you help? Food is the biggest need, Lambert said. "Right now, child-friendly food, but our needs change weekly when school's in. Sometimes it 's food, sometimes it 's funds for food. We have great volunteers, but can always use more. People get sick and we need subs. Individuals can drop off items. Groups can sponsor drives. There's a wide-open door for people to contact us and so many ways to help." Success of the Backpack Ministry and its relationships led the Forest Hills congregation to start another ministry. " We started Beyond Backpacks to meet different needs we heard of from teachers and counselors," said Baxter Hurley, senior pastor at Forest Hills. "They let us know particulars and we've helped. We've given things like school supplies, school uniforms, underwear, lice kits, and even furniture, beds and housewares. In one case – a very sad case – we helped pay funeral expenses. It 's part of the impact we want to have based on the love God has shared with us." Lambert said the need is heartrending, but the work rewarding. "It can be pretty mundane," she said. "You unload food, pack bags, load bags, unload them. Then it hits you: each one represents a child, one who might go hungry if they don't get it. "And this is Central Georgia. It helps precious children in need right here. We can do something about it. We are doing something about it. I tell you, it changes you. It changes students who help, school teams and business people who come. It 's a community effort and it absolutely changes the lives of hungry kids every weekend." To learn more If you're interested in being part of the community effort spearheaded by Forest Hills UMC to provide nutritious food and snacks to students in need, contact the Forest Hills off ice at 478-477-1161 or Backpack Ministry leader Brenda Lambert at bslambert@bellsouth.net.