Summerville girl donates her egg-selling money to Friday Backpack Program

SALE OF EGGS BENEFITS NEEDY FAMILIES: Maddy Lease, 14, of Summerville, sells eggs from her family’s chicken coop and donates the money to the Friday Backpack Program, an organization that helps feed low-income families and their children. The La Grande program started last year serving only 10 children and their families. By the end of the year, their number reached 100. This year they are serving 120 students. The Observer/TRISTEN KNIGHT

Maddy Lease, 14, of Summerville, sells eggs from  her family’s chicken coop and donates the money to the Friday Backpack Program, an organization that helps feed low-income families and their children.

“We sell eggs to regular customers, and I asked my mom if I could bring the excess eggs to sell at our church’s bazaar,” said Maddy.

Through the program, children from low-income families receive a sack of food to take home in their backpack each Friday. All the food is child-friendly, non-perishable and vitamin-fortified.

“Each child gets a lot,” said Carlene Crampton, advisory board president for the Friday Backpack Program in La Grande. “We pack up five and a half to six pounds of food per backpack — it has vegetables, tuna, fruit cups, apple sauce ... just good food.”

“My grandma started a program like this in the Portland area, and I thought it was a really cool idea,” said Maddy.

The La Grande program started last year serving only 10 children and their families. By the end of the year, their number reached 100. This year they are kicking off with 120 students.

“The schools know what children need food,” said Crampton. “We don’t know who they are — we only know numbers.”

To make this program work, the program relies on cash donations, donated food, drop sites and people like Maddy to help.

“I’d like to see other kids maybe taking action,” said Crampton. “Kids helping kids … there’s nothing better than that.”

Maddy’s eggs sell for $2 a dozen at Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande every other Sunday between 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Maddy has raised more than $140 so far.

“People often give more to help out and support them (the children),” said Cathy Lease, Maddy’s mother.

For more information about the Friday Backback Program, call the First Presbyterian Church at 963-5114.

Friday Backpack Program

Foods must meet 3 requirements

1. 275 calories or less

2. 10 grams or less of total fat

3. 2 or more grams of fiber

4. 17 grams of sugar or less

5. At least 3 grams of protein

Drop Sites: Cook Memorial Library, Island City and Central Schools, Zion Lutheran, Nazarene Church, Presbyterian churches, OSU Extension Services, Grocery Outlet, Bugs & Butterflies, Grande Ronde Retirement Residence, Apple Eye Care, Curves, Wells Fargo Bank and Red Cross Drug. Maurice’s offers a 20 percent-off coupon with a donation of three items from the food list.

Mail tax-deductible checks to:

Friday Backpack Program

1308 Washington Ave.

La Grande, OR 97850

Needed: Spaghettios, ravioli, chili, refried beans, peanut butter, canned tuna, fruit cups, instant oatmeal packets, small individual boxes of cereal, granola or protein bars, small boxes of raisins, boxes of mac and cheese, packets or cans of vegetable beef, tomato or chicken noodle soups, hot chocolate packets, Goldfish crackers, graham crackers, saltine crackers, pudding cups, 100 percent fruit juice, fruit rolls, Top Ramen noodles