Carmel Back Sacks for kids

The Merciful HELP Center coordinates the Carmel Back Sack program throughout each school year. 2024/2025 is our 9th year!

What is a "backsack"?: 
A backsack is a small plastic bag of food that consists of 2 breakfasts, 2 drinks, 3 snacks, and 2 lunches for children that might be at risk of not having food for the weekend. 

The Merciful HELP Center coordinates the effort to gather food, coordinate churches, counselors, and schedules to bring these carefully constructed sacks to school counselors to get into the backpacks of children who need them.

We work with the following partners:
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
St. Christopher Episcopal Church
Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Each month a different church is tasked with collecting whatever food they can. The Merciful HELP Center provides the remaining needs. The Churches pack up the sacks that are needed and delivers them to the school counselors on a pre-arranged specific day each month. 

Here is our constant list of needs if you are willing to help. Items may vary due to availability. You can donate these items to the Merciful HELP center donation room from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM ANY DAY of the week. We are located at 1045 West 146th St., Carmel, IN 46032, on Our Lady of Mt. Carmel's Campus. The donation room is on the south side of the building. Label them, Carmel Back Sacks please!