Mindy Miller hosts a backpack party to help those less fortunate..."if everyone does a little no one has to do a lot"

ODESSA -- 

Everyday Hero Mindy Miller throws a different kind of party to help get people in the mood to help others. She hosts a backpacking party at her home in Odessa.

For the past five years, she has thrown the shin-dig for a good cause - for youngsters who could use a little help.

Miller started this, partially, to set an example for her own kids.

"When I had little boys, they were not able to do any community service because they were so little, so this was a good way for them to get some hands on involvement to help other people," Miller said.

Each year, right before the start of school, Miller and her helpers fill backpacks with needed school supplies, which then go to the folks at Metropolitan Ministries, who, in turn, deliver the backpacks to new young owners.

But why a party?

“A party makes it fun," Miller said. "That's how you get people involved. If everyone does a little, then no one has to do a lot. So it's just an easy way for people to have a contribution. We get everyone together, so that we can accomplish a goal that we might not have if it was just ourselves."

Miller gets parents she knows to donate funds and items for the backpacks.

In the first year, they filled 50 packs. In the four years since, they have filled 100 each year.

Each backpack contains about $25 in supplies.