Operation Backpack is now Journey UP
Back in 2017, a local gal, Angela Powell found herself driving a school bus. Thinking it would be a piece of cake, she realized in less than a week, it wasn’t how she imagined at all. The heartbreaking stories that she encountered day after day inspired her to take action and do what she could to make a difference in the lives of these kids that boarded her bus.
That is when she started the weekend meal program and since 2017, has served over 15,000 meals. That’s four meals per weekend per student in each bag and snacks and water. She was then approached with hygiene issues for high schoolers and since 2018, she has handed over 3000 hygiene bags to students and families in the Gresham Barlow School district.
Then the need for school supplies was a major concern and thus, “Journey Up” (formerly Operation Backpack) was born. She spearheaded, with help from local businesses, a backpack drive to collect backpacks full of school supplies to bring some hope to these kids that just have no way of acquiring what they need to have a successful start in their school year. Thanks to help from the Mt Hood Mustangs and Ford Club and the Gresham Office Depot, they organized a car show and collected the backpacks full of school supplies.
In 2020 they were unable to have a car show as in years past, so they decided to do a tour. Students still need school supplies and backpacks, so they organized different locations to take the bus and pick up the donations. Gresham Ford was their first stop and we were delighted to have the bus here and load some backpacks for our local kids!
So, thank you to Angela Powell, the crew at the Gresham Office Depot and all those loyal Mustang owners, once again for making a difference and bringing the community together to support our kids!
