Union Bears Backpack Program

08/18/2026

We are excited to share some information about the history and many benefits of the Southwest Virginia Children’s Advocacy Center! 💙

We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with this incredible organization as we work together to support food security for children in our community. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of such important work! 💙🧡

08/14/2026

Good news!

We have plenty left from Kids Produce Market!

If you couldn’t make it today, come by the office from 8:30-6pm (closed 12-1 for lunch) tomorrow to shop!

Children are not required to attend with parent/guardian.

Call our office with questions!

08/14/2026

A special helper came to join me as we delivered our first week’s weekend bags for the new school year to classrooms! 🥰💙🧡

I’m so thankful for student helpers with big hearts who are willing to lend a hand and help us make a difference! ❤️

We want to make sure we protect the privacy and dignity of every student we serve. No student names or identifying information are ever shared. Each week, we drop the bags off in the teachers’ classrooms, and they discreetly make sure each student on our list gets their bag placed in their book bag.

We are so thankful for our teachers and everyone who helps us make this program possible! Here’s to another great year of serving our Union Bears! 🐻🎒✨

08/12/2026

We have received our monthly donation from the Big Stone Gap Lions Club! 🦁

We are so incredibly appreciative of their consistent support of the Union Bears Backpack Program. Their continued generosity helps us provide food to students in our community each week.

Thank you, Big Stone Gap Lions Club, for always supporting our kids and our Program! We are so grateful for you! 🧡💙🐻

08/12/2026

Let’s try this again…….

‼️🐻Offical Union Football Shirt for the 2026 season🐻‼️

💙Below is the official shirt for the 2026 football season WITH ROSTER on the back (see design below).

🧡Shirts will be WHITE and come in the following:

🔷T-Shirt, $15
🔶Long Sleeve, $20
🔷Crew Sweatshirt, $25
🔶Hoodie, $30

🚨🏈We do offer kids sizes as well. Last day to order will be on Friday, August 14th.

🐾Please click the link below to order. Thank you for supporting this program. 🔷🔶🐻🏈

https://wisek12.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/1497/286/False/True

08/12/2026

💙🧡🐻

Families served by the Southwest Virginia Children's Advocacy Center at MEOC will benefit from a generous donation from the Union Bears Backpack Program.

The program donated nutritious food, snacks and hygiene supplies that will be distributed to families served by the CAC. These donations help ease some of life's everyday burdens, giving caregivers one less thing to worry about and providing extra support when it's needed most.

Thank you to the Union Bears Backpack Program and Katie Zirkle for your generosity and commitment to local children. We're grateful for community partners who continue to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve.

To learn more about the Children's Advocacy Center or how you can support local youth initiatives, call 276-523-4202 or visit www.meoc.org.

Pictured: Jerrie Adams, CAC family advocate; LaDonna Hall, CAC director; Katie Zirkle, Backpack Program volunteer/organizer; and Jennifer Davis, CAC manager.

08/11/2026

🎉 BIG NEWS!! 🎉
We are so excited to announce that the Union Bears Backpack Program has partnered with the Southwest Virginia Children’s Advocacy Center and their Kincare Program to help battle food insecurity among children and families in our community! ❤️🐻

Through this partnership, we will be providing meal and snack bags to families in Big Stone Gap and Appalachia who receive services through the Children’s Advocacy Center and Kincare Program.

We will also be providing snacks to keep at the CAC office so that children who come in for therapy or for forensic interviews have access to a quick snack when they need one. 🥨

The children served by the Children’s Advocacy Center are referred by the Department of Social Services and/or Law Enforcement and have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. They come to the CAC for forensic interviews related to prosecution and for trauma-focused, evidence-based mental health treatment. Many, but not all, of these children are in foster homes.

The Kincare Program serves grandparents and other relatives who are raising children through formal or informal foster care arrangements, legal custody, or adoption.
Both programs serve families throughout Wise, Lee, Scott, and Dickenson Counties and the City of Norton.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with organizations that are working every day to support children and families during some of the most difficult circumstances they may face.

We are SO excited about this partnership and all that we can accomplish together! 🐻❤️

Thank you to the Southwest Virginia Children’s Advocacy Center and Kincare Program for trusting us to be a part of this important work! Together, we can make sure no child in our community has to face hunger alone. 🧡💙🐻

Help us spread the word! 📣
Please LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW our page to help more people learn about the work we are doing and how they can support the Union Bears Backpack Program.

08/10/2026

📦 Another BIG food delivery is on our shelves! 📦

Last week, an amazing group of volunteers came out to help us unload and organize another order of food for the Union Bears Backpack Program — and let us tell you, it was a BIG job! 💪🏼📦

We are so thankful for everyone who took time out of their week to come lend a hand. Your help makes it possible for us to keep our pantry stocked and continue serving our students. ❤️

Thank you for showing up, pitching in, and supporting our Bears! 🐻🧡💙

Cecilia Robinette
Diane Botts
Donna Mahan
Mary Beth Seay Allen
Pam Kelley
Kristen Hamilton Skorupa
Margie Mabe
Valerie Childress
Rhonda Salyer

08/07/2026

🎉 Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets for our $100 Food City Gift Card fundraiser!

Your generosity and continued support of the Union Bears Backpack Program means so much to us. Every ticket purchased helps us continue providing weekend food bags to students facing food insecurity at Union Primary School.

Congratulations to our winner, Ondrea Bass Beverly 🎉 We hope you enjoy your prize!

Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of our students. We couldn’t do it without this amazing community! 🧡💙