Backpack drive in Marshalltown

Today we have a message from Pastor LaCosta Van Dyk on an upcoming back to school project:

Packing Blessing Bags in June

FPC family, as I look back on packing the Blessing Bags in June, I continue to be overwhelmed by your generosity with your time. We had so many great helpers! We look forward to handing these bags out to those in need in our community.

Packing 30 blessing bags was just the beginning—a warm up for our next chance to bless the community! We’d love to have you join us on Saturday, August 15 from 9:00 - noon as we partner with Mosaic Church to pack 500 backpacks for students. Just like with the blessing bags, all the materials are supplied—you just have to show up, grab a bag, and stop at each station. This is a great activity for families and people of all ages. These backpacks are distributed to local schools and Big Brothers/Big Sisters for students who are new to the district or in need of supplies. Each bag will contain everything a student needs to start the school year.

Packing backpacks in 2025

There are two ways to be involved: you can write a check to help buy supplies, mark it “backpacks”, and drop it in the offering plate. It costs about $35 for each backpack--$10 for the bag and $25 for the supplies. The second way to be involved is to come to the Gathering Place on Saturday, August 15 beginning at 9 a.m. and help us put the items in bags. After we’re finished with all 500 bags, we’ll pray over all of them. We’d love to have you join us as we bless the students in Marshalltown! If you have questions, you can contact me or Matt Broshar.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor LaCosta