A year ago, Betty Brooks answered a challenge from leaders at First Church of God to find places to serve within Clark County.

“They had a list (of places) in the lobby and I saw Strode Station (on it),” Brooks said. “I came out and talked to Ros. This is what it wound up being.”

Ros Gay, who coordinates the Family Resource Center at Strode Station Elementary, said she needed someone to help with the weekly backpack program, where children in need can take a bag of food home with them to get them through the weekend until school starts back.

“One of our biggest problems is kids not having enough food,” Gay said. “There was a need for our kiddos to have that supplement over the weekend.”

First Church of God now sponsors the entire backpack program, Gay said, and either donates or purchases food to fill the bags. On Thursdays, Brooks spends about an hour at the FRC office filling bags with a variety of items. On this day, there was ramen soup, granola bars, fruit and a drink. Usually, there’s something sweet as well.

“As people donate stuff, we give it away,” said Brooks, whose granddaughter attends Strode Station.

Presently, Brooks spends about an hour on Thursdays to fill bags for 23 students to take home after school on Friday.

“It’s been a blast,” she said.

The support from the church and “Miss Betty” has been a help for the center as well.

“It’s such a blessing when you have (these) partnerships,” Gay said.