SOMERVILLE CARES: A Community Comes Together to Fill 100 Backpacks

What began as a simple call to help children in foster care became a beautiful testament to the power of community love in action. This past Saturday, July 19th, our "Fill a Backpack, Fuel a Future" event exceeded every expectation.

A Morning of Purpose and Heart
Volunteers gathered at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, including many new faces from beyond our parish family. The energy was infectious as families worked side by side, carefully packing each backpack with essential school supplies.

One of the most moving moments came when we paused to look at our growing pile of completed backpacks. "Each pack represents a child that we are helping," we reflected together, and you could feel the weight of that truth settle over our volunteers. These weren't just supplies—they were messages of hope to children who often carry their few belongings in plastic bags as they move from home to home.

Community Leadership
We were honored to welcome Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, who arrived early with her husband to greet volunteers and express the city's gratitude for our efforts. While the Mayor had other commitments, her daughter joined our packing team, representing the next generation's commitment to service.

A Sacred Send-Off
The true culmination came on Sunday, when Father Anthony offered a blessing over all 100 backpacks after Divine Liturgy. His prayer was deeply moving as he asked God to give encouragement to each child who would receive a backpack, and for them to feel loved and cared for despite being in foster care. It was a sacred moment that reminded us why we serve.

Beyond Our Wildest Dreams
When we delivered the backpacks to DCF, staff members were overwhelmed—not just by the 100 fully-stocked backpacks, but by the 100 handmade cards our volunteers had creatively crafted for each child. Seeing our church family tap into their artistic sides to write personal messages of encouragement was an unexpected joy that added even more heart to our mission.

Grateful Hearts
We're grateful to our generous refreshment sponsors: Wegmans, Lyndells, and Davis Square Hand Crafted Donuts & Bagels, whose donations made our morning even more enjoyable and kept our volunteers energized throughout the event.

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Most importantly, we extend our deepest gratitude to all our donors. Your financial support made every backpack, every supply, and every smile possible.

Join Our Mission
This event was organized by our church's "Love Thy Neighbor" ministry, and we welcome anyone who would like to help with these kinds of outreach events to join us or contact Angela Shermanopoulos. This beautiful event will become an annual tradition at our parish. As we witnessed Saturday, when we come together in Christ's love, we can touch lives in ways that extend far beyond what we can imagine.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14