As we've learned in the time of COVID-19, our churches are figuring out how to continue to serve their communities, with the need for food higher than ever. Member of Christ Church Frederica, Susan Shipman, has lead the charge for the Glynn County Backpack Buddies program for the last nine years. Now an ecumenical effort, in pre-COVID times Shipman led the charge in serving 440 meals to students across the county. When schools were cancelled for in-person classes, students weren't able to get their breakfast and lunch during the week, which meant her meal count has grown to 800. 

Backpack Buddies was created to make sure students who would typically go without meals on the weekend would have food to eat when not at school. Now that school is out, the need has grown. Shipman usually gets her supplies from the local food bank, but with a higher level of need in the county, she's having to find other streams of supplies. Thankfully with every ask she's put to the community, donors have responded and filled the need. "We have many very generous donors who know we've had this program going for a long time, and they've really stepped up when they knew we were going to be packing more bags and serving more children," Shipman said.

Shipman's heart for service has also made it's mark on the Diocese of Georgia. She was a key member in creating that development plan for Honey Creek, working with key diocesan staff members and committees.