A common rap on teenagers is that they’re self-absorbed — preoccupied with music, TV, junk food and the travails of school life.

Nobody could say that about the junior high school students in the American Baptist Youth Group at First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive. If they’re absorbed in anything these days, it’s with sorting through boxes of winter-weather supplies such as gloves, scarves, hats, ChapStick and skin lotion.

About 20 students in seventh through ninth grade who are active in the church have begun a backpack drive to provide nearly 80 school-type backpacks — stuffed full of items designed to keep folks warm and comfortable in winter — to homeless or needy people at the Community Drop-In Center, 214 W. 10th St.

The students plan to present the backpacks Nov. 15 to participants in a regular, monthly birthday party at the center. Those who show up for the party will each get a free, gift-stuffed backpack, as long as the limited supply lasts.

“You don’t see many youth that are really concerned with others,” said the Rev. Steve Kawiecki, First Baptist’s associate pastor for student ministries. “It struck me as being pretty awesome that a junior high youth group would be the ones coming up with a project. They got behind it, and that was impressive to me. These kids have a heart of service, and you don’t see that often today.”

The church project grew out of a suggestion by Emily Lamb, 14, an eighth-grader at Central Junior High School.

Emily and her mother, Stacey Lamb, have been organizing the monthly birthday parties at the Drop-In Center since April 2001 — an idea that Emily came up with.

The parties typically feature cake, ice cream, door prizes and entertainment.

Emily mentioned to other youth group members that maybe they could give out backpacks filled with cold-weather supplies as something different and special for the November party.

“We wanted to have a really cool gift,” she said.

Rebecca Weinaug, 14, left, and Clay Weinaug, 13, right, stock backpacks with supplies for the winter at First Baptist Church. The Weinaugs are members of the American Baptist Youth Group at First Baptist. The backpacks will be available Nov. 15 at the Community Drop-In Center, 214 W. 10th St.

The youth group plans to finish stuffing the backpacks Sunday, in preparation for Wednesday’s party at the Drop-In Center.

Overflowing boxes, bags

Youth group members enthusiastically greeted Emily’s suggestion, and they began putting out the word in October that donations of supplies were needed from the church and the community.

Items on the wish list included backpacks, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, Kleenex boxes, skin moisturizer, ChapStick, flashlights, batteries, packets of powdered hot chocolate, and cocoa and thermoses. Journals, notebooks, pens and pencils also were wedged into the backpacks.

“We put some fun stuff in, too — not all practical things. Hot chocolate isn’t a necessity, but it’s nice for them to have,” said Sammy Wheeler, 15, a ninth-grader at West Junior High School.

Clay Weinaug thought it would be a good idea to extend the project to Lawrence junior high schools, canvassing their students for items to donate.

“I just figured that it would be cool if we went into the junior highs, because there are a lot of kids there, and we could get more backpacks,” said Clay, 13, a seventh-grader at Southwest Junior High School.

Each of Lawrence’s four junior high schools is contributing something to the project, thanks to the outreach efforts of students in First Baptist’s youth group.

Emily’s school, Central, has given 23 backpacks and plans to add a $100 check for the group.

Southwest students have collected more than 300 pairs of socks, West students have brought in non-perishable and canned food items and South students have gathered more than 100 pairs of gloves.

And, of course, First Baptist members have given generously to the backpack project.

The result is boxes and bags stuffed with contributed goods.

“People really donated a lot,” said Sammy. “It will help make the winter easier and more enjoyable for homeless and needy people.”

Different and unexpected

Youth group members are surprised and pleased with all the supplies they’ve gathered. They hope participants in the November birthday party at the Drop-In Center will find them useful as the weather grows colder.

“I know that socks and gloves are the main necessities. I think when we put it all together, it will come in handy, at least for a while,” Emily said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the looks on people’s faces. It makes me really happy to see people smiling and laughing and having a good time.”

Rebecca Weinaug, a 14-year-old freshman at Southwest, agreed.

“We just wanted to help our community. Our youth group has helped out at the birthday parties before. It just feels good giving back to people,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kawiecki is impressed with the efforts of the youth group members.

“It just struck me as being pretty amazing that these kids would do something different and unexpected,” he said.