A first of its kind event was held July 25 when Coweta County’s Project 586 and Backpack Buddies nonprofits held a back-to-school event for those in the Senoia community in need of clothes and shoes, backpacks and school supplies.
Project 586 at the event provided clothing/shoes for approx 70 people, with about 40 of those being children, while Backpack Buddies served close to 50 kids with school supplies.
Project 586 was the brainchild of Karhma and Anthony Novak, while Backpack Buddies came into existence a few years ago due to the efforts of April Anderson. The mission of both nonprofits is to be of assistance to needy families.
The “Back to School Shopping Day” was held at the Freeman Sasser building in Senoia and represented the combined efforts of both organizations, with Backpack Buddies supplying 50 backpacks filled with school supplies and Project 586 providing 140 boxes and containers of school clothes and shoes. All items at the event came at no charge to recipients.
The idea for Project 586 began several years ago when Anthony and Karhma chose a family to receive Christmas gifts.
“We went to their house and the poverty was overwhelming,” Karhma said of the impetus to begin the Project 586 ministry. “Anthony said, ‘we’re Christians (and) what have we been doing all our lives?’ And it started from there.”
The name Project 586 comes from Isaiah 58:6-11. It is in one of those verses that the prophet asks, Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.
To that end Anthony and Karhma worked with individuals and churches in Coweta County to stockpile donated clothes, shoes and other items for low-income residents in Senoia.
In its efforts, Backpack Buddies has now spread its mission of providing free weekend breakfasts and lunches to income-eligible children in a growing number of schools across Coweta County.
Both organizations work closely with the Vineyard Community Church and other church groups in Coweta. Staff and members from area churches and local service organizations volunteered at the event.
And while both groups fill the needs of the needy, they too sometimes need a helping hand. Project 586 is in need of a box truck and Backpack Buddies has a need for a van.
Beyond those needs, both organizations are working with other nonprofits such as the Sow Good Center and Our Father’s House to secure a building.
For more information on Project 586 visit www.facebook.com/project586
For more information on Backpack Buddies visit www.backpackbuddiesga.org
