From the Annual Conference office
The Annual Conference Witness to the Host City this year in Greensboro, N.C., is benefiting BackPack Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to making a difference for local, low-income children and families by providing for their tangible basic needs.
Their mission is to connect children and their families to resources needed to thrive. By ensuring food and basic necessities are given directly to children in need, they are making a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of over 25,000 children in and around Greensboro.

BackPack Beginnings distributes basic necessities to children via their 183 community partners and through their Family Market. Their community partners include schools, Headstarts, pediatricians’ offices, nonprofits, churches, and the Housing Authority. The Family Market is a dignity of choice, “one-stop” shopping experience where parents and children select the items to meet their basic needs at no cost in a retail-like, welcoming environment. Families have access to expanded food choices such as frozen foods, fresh produce, and dairy items as well as resources such as hygiene products, children’s clothing, diapers, baby accessories, school supplies, and even childhood joys such as toys, books, and sports equipment!

For a list of items to be collected at Annual Conference see www.brethren.org/ac2025/activities/witness-to-the-host-city. Monetary contributions can be made by check during the Friday night worship offering or on the Annual Conference website offering page.
To learn more about BackPack Beginnings visit https://backpackbeginnings.org
To learn more about Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C., on July 2-6 go to www.brethren.org/ac2025
———-
Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Standing Committee acts on relationship with Eder Financial and Everence at special Zoom meeting
- EDF grants continue Nigeria Crisis Response, support Lebanese affected by war
- Standing Committee to hold special Zoom meeting
- Resources now available for National Youth Sunday 2026
- Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs interfaith letter opposing $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget