Tragedy can sometimes turn to triumph, and through the pain and tears of loss, smiles and joy can come. Such is the story of Nick’s Mission.

Following the tragic loss of Nick and his grandparents in June of 2011, the Shumake family looked for something to do to honor their lives while helping their community. So, in August of that year, Nick’s Mission was born.

It began at the program’s pilot school, Nick’s school, James Bowie. Nick’s sister, Lacey Mullins, worked at the district then, and says, “They hold a special place in our hearts, and it was just the natural place to start. Our first delivery was for 28 backpacks.”

Now, over a decade later, the program has grown and the whole family is involved. Nick’s sisters Kelsey and Lacey, along with mom Barbara, handle the day-today operations. Lacey says, “We are blessed with so many volunteers who help us pack the backpacks and deliver to the schools each week, as well as those who help us unload the trailer when our monthly food order is delivered. Many hands make light work, and we are so fortunate to be surrounded by so many willing volunteers.”

Nick’s Mission now provides backpack food to 11 schools (7 districts) and 150 kids across western Bowie County, and they are always looking for other schools who have children who could benefit from the program.

Some might think that these backpacks are filled with easy to eat junk food, but that is not the case. While the easy part is true, a typical week’s worth of backpack food contains shelf-stable, easy-to-open snacks, foods, and drinks. Each item in the bag is made for even small children to open on their own, and all of the food can be eaten without being heated up or refrigerated. They also add a few special treats for special occasions and holidays. Lacey notes, “We want our kiddos to know they are loved and cared for even if they don’t know who we are.”

The food that goes into each backpack is provided by the East Texas Food Bank in Tyler. They send the food already packaged and ready to be put into the backpacks. The organization is very thankful to the food bank for all they do to further the program’s mission.

And the mission is simple. When asked why they started Nick’s Mission and why it continues to grow, Lacey says, “The simple answer is because absolutely no child should ever go hungry. When we lost Nick and Lynn and Wilene, Barbara wanted a way to honor their memories and to do something meaningful for the children in our area. Nick had a heart for helping others, and as Barbara began to pray and do some research, she learned that the number of food-insecure children in our area is terribly high. That was the beginning of Nick’s Mission, and we have never looked back.”

In fact, they are looking forward. The family and all of the volunteers with Nick’s Mission plan to continue providing food to our local schools for as long as there is a need. Lacey concludes, “We would absolutely love to expand Nick’s Mission and we’re always looking for schools to add that could benefit from our program.”

If you know of a school that could benefit from the work, love and dedication of Nick’s Mission, all you have to do is ask. Reach out to them on their Facebook page or go to their website found at nicksmissionbackpack. com If you would like to help the program directly, the Tribune is hosting a food drive throughout the month of October, with half of the food collected to go to Nick’s Mission. There is a donation box inside the Tribune office in downtown New Boston, and there is also a collection box inside Brookshire’s. Everyone who donates food this month will be entered into a drawing for a special Halloween themed gift basket.

For more information on the food drive, you can call the Tribune at 903-6285801.