Oxford Lovepacks, a volunteer organization that provides snacks to needy elementary school children, received the check from its recent Charity Bowling Tournament at Oxford Commons on Sept. 17. David Blackburn, president of Blackburn Communities, the developer of Oxford Commons, delivered the check.
Oxford Lovepacks began in 2010 at Bramlett Elementary School, when a teacher noticed a child’s backpack leaking as he walked down the hall. The child had taken unwanted milk from his classmate’s trays, because he didn’t get any at home.
Teachers and counselors work together to determine who receives a Lovepack, and they are discreetly slipped into the children’s backpack on Friday, before the weekend. Lovepacks accepts non-perishable, kid-friendly food, such as granola bars, fruit cups, pudding, cheese or peanut butter crackers, pop-top soups and raviolis and beanie weenies.
The organization reached non-profit status in 2012, and Mary Leary and Helen Phillips formed it, along with Linda Vaughn, Alice Krause and Camille Bianco. Lovepacks provides 160 packs a week and has grown to nine Oxford and Lafayette schools.
