Years ago, Elayne Olson was on a mission trip to Mexico, where she had the opportunity to work with young children. She noticed that for many of the children, the meal they received at school was their only food source for the day. "I knew I wanted to do something to help kids who have food insecurity, and I'm someone who has always said to look in your own backyard first," she recalled. Inspired to make a difference, Olson began researching food programs in Lancaster County and soon learned about the Power Packs Project, an organization that distributes a weekly food pack to students.

Olson started the Donegal Power Packs Project in 2014, but now she's ready to take a step back. She's looking for someone to take over leading the volunteer-run organization, helping to provide access to food for Donegal School District families that qualify for the program.

"I would love for someone or an organization or group to step in and lead," Olson stated. "It requires organizational skills, access to a computer and printer, familiarity with Google Docs and the ability to do food inventory and ordering." She estimates that the leadership position requires about 15 to 20 hours of volunteer time a week and noted that it would be possible for several people to split the tasks. "This job could definitely be spread out among several people, and there would just be one person overseeing everyone," she explained.

Open to students in kindergarten through grade 12, Donegal Power Packs is hosted by The Donegal Foundation. About 13 volunteers help fill 77 seven-pound bags of food once a week at Marietta Community Chapel, which donates the space to the nonprofit. Each bag contains the ingredients for a nutritious meal, a recipe and a few staples, as well as an educational tip sheet. "The idea of Power Packs is to provide food for children to be fed over the weekend, so they come to school Monday morning ready to learn," Olson explained. "The hope is also that we'll provide low-cost, healthy meals, and if the family enjoys it, they'll go out and purchase the ingredients and make it again themselves."

Most of the work from volunteers is performed on Thursdays, when bags are distributed either at the chapel or at school for children to take home with them. "Thursdays are the highlight of my week," Olson remarked. "Seeing the kids get so excited to pick up their bag of food and when their eyes light up and they're smiling, it's just the best."

Olson encourages anyone with a heart for service to consider taking over her role with Donegal Power Packs. She noted that training will be provided and that support from the Power Packs headquarters in Lancaster is also available. "I'm all about outreach to the community," she said, "and I'd love to find someone who feels the same way."

For more information on volunteering or taking on the leadership role, contact Olson at donegalpowerpacks@gmail.com.