Zeta Rho chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met in the home of Sheila Stevenson for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 14.
Sheila and co-hostess Alice Liles served chicken salad, crackers, a veggie tray, mixed nuts, and chocolate cake for the evening meal before learning about the Snack Pak 4 Kids program from guest presenter Terry Marricle.
Terry told members that a pharmacist named Dyron Howell in Amarillo had wondered if kids on the Title 1 lunch program at schools had anything to eat over weekends. In 2010 he started something called Snack Pak 4 Kids which supplied kids who might go hungry over the weekends with a bag of snacks to get them through till Monday.
Terry heard about the program and became involved with snack pak 4 kids after then Pastor Mindy McClanahan challenged participants in her discipleship class at Muleshoe Methodist Church to do something in the spirit of a disciple. So, with donations for supplies and volunteers to fill the bags, Terry started what she called the Backpack Ministry. The bags were distributed to students on Saturday mornings at the Methodist Church. That was in 2014. Eventually the Backpack program joined Snack Pak in 2017. In the beginning, 72 students were served; as of this month, March 2023, 152 kids get bags every weekend. The program is completely funded by donations with community volunteers, school groups, and businesses coming together to fill the bags. All money donated goes to food for the bags, and none of it is used for administrative costs or shipping of the food items. Donations are much appreciated and can be sent to snack pak 4 kids, 701 Park Place Avenue, Amarillo, Texas, 79101. Bank drafts for monthly donations can also be set up. Contact Terry for that information.
After the program, in the absence of President Lynne Box, Vice-President Sheila Stevenson led members in the opening ritual. Secretary Vicki Black called roll and read minutes from the last meeting. Treasurer Pat Young gave the treasurer’s report. New business included information about the upcoming Founder’s Day event, which will be April 11 at the Bailey County Electric meeting room. Discussion followed concerning Woman and Member of the Year, awards that will be revealed that night.
Election of officers for the coming year was next, and the motion was made to elect the current officers by acclimation. The motion passed and the new officers are still Lynne Box, Sheila Stevenson, Vicki Black, Pat Young, Cindy Barrett, and Melba King.
The motion was also made and approved to make a donation to Snack Pak 4 Kids in honor of Terry Marricle for her work with the organization.
The door prize was drawn for and won by Pat Angeley. Members then recited the closing ritual and mizpah.
Members present for the meeting were, standing, left to right: Melba King, Vicki Black, Pat Young, Sandi Chitwood; seated: Rickie Warren, Sheila Stevenson, guest speaker Terry Marricle, Pat Angeley. Not picture: Alice Liles.
