Backpack Shoppers Wanted
You loved shopping for school supplies. You’re out of school, maybe your kids are, too, but you still find yourself walking down the school supply aisle, drawn to untouched spirals, sharpened No. 2s, creative folders and a backpack to carry all.
Regain that pleasure this August by buying and donating to local back-to-school programs that make sure every kid returns to class with supplies for success.
Anne Arundel County Social Services collects donations and pairs donors with students on the free- and reduced-fee-lunch list at local elementary schools.
“Every needy kid that requests help gets helped,” says Social Service volunteer coordinator Tanya Steele. “But to have almost 6,500 requests is overwhelming.”
So far, backpacks have been filled for 5,000 Anne Arundel County students. But 1,400 kids are still in need of school supplies.
To fill a backpack for one of these kids: 410-269-4462; [email protected]; http://bit.ly/14HPT5T.
If shopping is not your bag, you can still help a student in need.
Glen Bernie’s Abundant Life Church sponsors the 23rd annual Saturday Kids Carnival and Family Fun Day on August 24. Last year a record 3,500 people helped the church supply more than 1,300 pack bags.
In Calvert County, the Children’s Aid Inc. coordinates the school supply drive, collecting donations and delivering backpacks for local schools to distribute. To fill backpacks en masse, many local organizations are collecting back-to-school basics. Wanted are No. 2 pencils, Crayola crayons, Big Pink erasers, Elmer’s Glue Sticks, scissors, pencil cases, composition books, dividers, spiral notebooks, three-ring binders and folders and, of course, backpacks, plain or character.
Drop-off points are many. Find the complete list at www.thechildrensaid.org.
Need is greater than ever. Give in to your craving for school-supply shopping, and you can help to send a kid to school with a backpack filled to the zipper with all the goodies you had the pleasure of shopping for.