Benson's Backpack Ministry Distributes 500+ Backpacks

The annual Benson's Backpack Assistance Ministry event took place at White County High School around the track of Dee Harris Field on Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to around noon, providing free school supplies and other resources to students in White and Van Buren counties. Hosted by the Sparta-White County Family YMCA, the event brought together local churches, schools, businesses, organizations, and volunteers to help families prepare for the upcoming school year.

This year's event was a success, with more than 500 backpacks distributed to local students and even more expected to be provided to families in the days leading up to the start of school.

“This year's Benson's Backpack Assistance Ministry event was an incredible blessing,” said Samantha Murphy, program director at the Sparta-White County Family YMCA. “We had an amazing turnout of families and an overwhelming amount of support from volunteers, churches, businesses, schools, and community organizations. It was wonderful to see so many people come together with one goal—to help local students start the school year feeling prepared, encouraged, and supported.”

In addition to backpacks filled with school supplies, families had access to hygiene items, educational resources, snack and food bags, and other community resources. The White County Health Department provided hygiene items and educational materials, while Life Church provided hygiene bags. Pistole Baptist Church and North Sparta Church of God prepared snack and food bags, and Mountain Sno provided snow cones for families attending the event.

The event provided families with an opportunity to connect with local organizations, including Hope Alliance Coalition, which was present to serve and connect with attendees. Special Warriors volunteers helped distribute backpacks, while representatives from every White County school and Van Buren County Schools were present to welcome and support students.

“Every year, this event continues to grow,” Murphy said. “We continue to see more community involvement and more opportunities to serve local families. It's encouraging to watch so many people come together each year to invest in the children of White County and continue the heart behind this ministry.”

Volunteers gathered at the Sparta-White County Family YMCA the day before to pack backpacks and organize supplies for distribution, but for local families, the ministry provides more than school supplies as children prepare to return to the classroom.

“The beginning of a new school year is exciting, but it can also bring financial stress for many families,” Murphy said. “This event helps ease some of that burden by providing backpacks and school supplies, but it also reminds families that they are surrounded by a community that genuinely cares. Every child deserves to walk into school feeling prepared, confident, and supported.”

The ministry, originally launched in 2012 by the Union Baptist Association, has continued to grow through partnerships between local churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations. The program was later transitioned to the Sparta-White County Family YMCA and renamed Benson's Backpack Assistance Ministry in honor of longtime coordinator Carleen Benson, who passed away unexpectedly in February 2025.

As the program continues under the YMCA's leadership, organizers hope to carry forward the spirit of service that Benson brought to the ministry.

“Our hope is that Benson's Backpack Assistance Ministry continues to grow and reach every family who needs a helping hand,” Murphy said. “More than anything, we hope it continues to reflect the spirit of kindness, generosity, and service that Carleen Benson was known for. Her legacy continues through this event as our community comes together each year to care for local children and families, and we pray that legacy lives on for generations to come.”

This sentiemenal even would not have been made possible without all of the local volunteers and organizations that came together and worked hard for the kids.

“We feel incredibly blessed to be part of a community that always shows up,” Murphy said. “Seeing churches, schools, businesses, organizations, and neighbors unite to invest in our children is something truly special.”

As students prepare to begin another school year, Benson's Backpack Assistance Ministry continues to provide more than backpacks and supplies. The annual event serves as an opportunity for the community to come together, meet practical needs, and remind local children and families that they are supported.