Shepherd of the Hills Back to School Drive provides for those in need

By Willis Patenaude 

It was a warm, sunny morning last Wednesday, while driving to St. Olaf for the Back to School event Shepherd of the Hills Ministries (SOTH) has organized since the 1980s to provide school supplies for area children in need. 

Cresting over the top of West Hill Street, a throng of activity is already visible, as parked cars are packing the streets and the line of parents and children stretches from the entrance of the church to the corner, some 30 people deep. 

Peering out the passenger side window, one looks simultaneously for an open parking spot, at the gathered crowd and admiringly at the seven to eight boxes filled with backpacks while others hang like drying clothes strung from the volunteer tent to nearby poles, waiting to be selected by the assemblage of school aged kids. Some stand in line while others rummage through the assorted backpacks, a healthy variety to account for multiple age groups and personal taste. The rest are patiently waiting for their bags to be stuffed with much needed school supplies and delivered back to them.

Last year, the event filled 335 backpacks for families in need. This year, coordinator Heather Hageman, entering her third year overseeing the event, set a lofty goal of 350. With a bountiful amount of community support through donations from all over northeast Iowa and as far away as California and Alaska, and the “big heart” of businesses, individuals and local churches, 350 wasn’t just a lofty goal, but an attainable one.

“Our donors are generous and share the same passion of helping those in need.  It isn’t about recognition; it’s about people caring for people,” Heather said.

Settling into a parking spot at the bottom of the hill on Main Street, it’s a short walk up the hill before encountering the hustle and bustle of the event. Volunteers are busily engaged with their assigned tasks, whether it’s working the desk under the shade of the tent, running the backpacks to be stuffed or stuffing the backpacks, there is little time for idleness. It’s there I find Heather, “running with her head cut off,” as she jokingly put it.

Working alongside her is the designated “Backpack Queen” Olivia Kirby, a ninth grader from MFL MarMac, who is putting in volunteer time to earn her Silver Cord. More importantly, it’s because she wants to help.

“Something so little can help out so much and anything can make a difference,” Olivia said.

Throughout the day, the Backpack Queen will sort and organize hundreds of bags into the seven to eight big boxes sitting out front on the sidewalk. She is a blur of activity, opening new bags and refilling the boxes, meticulously sorting them by age, size, design and grade. When she has a free minute, Olivia offers suggestions when kids look stumped and helps them find a bag. Since she sorted them, she knows exactly which box to look in.

Standing off to the side, taking in the event, is Heather’s mom Diana, who has helped out with almost every event at Shepherd of the Hills since Heather started, most notably Christmas for Kids. Diana admitted she never realized there was such a need, and she always shows up when Heather calls. She also humorously warned not to give the Backpack Queen too much attention because her “head will explode,” which incited a laugh from Olivia before she quickly returned to the heap of backpacks.

I soon discovered  jokes and playful banter would be plentiful, both from the volunteers and children, who were finding all sorts of ways to pass the time, from sitting on the tiny grassy hillside in front of the church to rolling down it, or catching bugs and handing them to Heather. Like Clarence, a little boy who loves nature and reminded Heather that she needs to “love nature and not kill bugs.”

As for the other volunteers, you had to go inside the church, into the room packed with school supplies all sorted into boxes, bins and baskets, where the “stuffers” are located. It’s their job to stuff backpacks with the necessary supplies after a runner brings it in. In this room is Sue Kuenzel, a 10-year stuffing veteran who also volunteers for other events. She volunteered initially because SOTH needed help, but also because they “can help people” and, of course, because “it’s fun.”

Working alongside her is Pat Johnson, who volunteered eight years ago because of her friend Sue. Together, they’ve been stuffing backpacks ever since, but in Pat’s case, she apparently got the job of stuffer because “she doesn’t play well with others,” Sue lightheartedly said. Pat also helps with the Christmas event, and while she joked about only being excited for lunch as she furiously stuffed pencils, notebooks and folders into a bag, she knows the event is about so much more.

“It’s a good cause that helps so many people,” she said, admitting that she likes getting the occasional hug from a happy child.

Most of the playful ribbing was reserved for newcomer Kellie Olsen, who has been volunteering for four years because, as she stated, she “can’t say no” to a good cause. The bulk of the jokes pertain to Kellie’s status as an “overachiever,” like color coordinating the supplies and backpacks, followed by a few good-humored comments about her being the “slowest stuffer.” One area where Kellie proved vital was in assisting Spanish-speaking parents who were there, helping them to get signed in and select bags and explaining the process.

Out on the sidewalk was a hustle and bustle of a different nature, with parents waiting in line, corralling kids and trying to keep them entertained as they waited for their turn. Among the parents was Kayla Hamm from Farmersburg, who was there with four children. It was her second year going to the event because it was a significant help financially and her kids enjoyed picking out the bags. 

Standing at the bottom of the hill, on the sidewalk, was Linda Shaw, who stated the event is “extremely important” because it helps parents and people in need and those who want to, but can’t provide. Over the years, she has brought five of her grandchildren to get their backpacks at Shepherd of the Hills. 

Alex Schobert was there with son Diesel, who turned four years old the same week. They also cited the financial benefit of showing up, as well as how it relieves stress and “helps people who need help.” On this day, Diesel was waiting for a Transformers backpack he’d selected already and talked about his favorite Transformer, Optimus Prime. He could not be persuaded to change it to Megatron.

Also among the crowd was George Rieck, who has been attending the event for the past few years. This year, he brought three of his five children, who all attend Central. Sitting in a chair he brought from home with a Gandalf-like walking stick, which he uses as a walking aid due to an injury to his leg, he commented on the financial stress that is relieved because of the Back to School Drive. Kids Bryer, Alyee and Amber engaged in sibling banter, sisterly slaps and endless jokes about their dad’s music and JoJo Siwa, who they had to explain.

The line on the sidewalk continued to move forward throughout the afternoon, as moms and dads worked to keep their kids entertained, while also navigating the indecision of childhood during the selection process, and remaining patient while they waited for runners to run and stuffers to stuff. 

Once the bags were brought back, all was right again, and the waiting was forgotten, replaced by happy faces leaving with new backpacks covered with images like blue flowers, or decorated with Marvel characters or Disney princesses—all stuffed with school supplies. All the while, Heather, the Backpack Queen and other volunteers kept on tirelessly working, because even a simple thing like a backpack can make a difference.