United Way Northumberland hosted its annual Backpack for Kids stuffing event on August 19, at the Cobourg Lions Community Centre, where the club generously donated space for the community initiative.
Volunteers, sponsors, and service clubs came together to prepare backpacks that will be distributed to students across Northumberland County in time for the new school year.
The Backpack for Kids program has been running since 2005 and provides supplies to students from junior kindergarten through Grade 12. Each backpack is packed with grade-appropriate items such as notebooks, pencils, pens, highlighters, calculators, and other learning tools. Organizers say the goal is to ensure all students start school on equal footing, prepared and ready to learn.
Veera Seepersab with CPK says students have enough on their plates without worrying about school supplies.
New enhancements introduced this year expand the program beyond basic supplies. Younger students will receive early-literacy tools, including storybooks and flash cards, as well as oral-health kits and resources promoting healthy habits thanks to the folks at HKPR District Health. These additions are designed to support children’s learning and well-being both inside and outside the classroom.
Ganaraska Credit Unions’ Megan Carr tells us this is just the type of community project they like to get behind.
This year’s campaign aimed to assemble about 850 backpacks, continuing a long tradition of community support that has helped thousands of children since the program’s launch. United Way Northumberland says the success of Backpack for Kids reflects the strength of collaboration between local businesses, service clubs, volunteers, and donors across the region.
Ryan Huffman Foundation’s Ashley Crews tells us the backpacks for kids program lines up directly with the foundations goals of providing supportive environments for well being.
By coming together to fill backpacks with both essentials and extra resources, the community is helping children across Northumberland start the school year with confidence and a fair chance to succeed.
United Way Executive Director Alicia Vandine tells us the program helps level the playing field for students so everyone can put forth their best efforts in school
United Way Northumberland would like to send a special thank-you to all those whose sponsorship helped with the program including Northumberland County, Elexicon Energy, Ganaraska Financial Credit Union, the Ryan Huffman Foundation, Cameco, the Rotary Club of Port Hope, and Ontario Power Generation.
TD Wealth’s Gunther Rappl sums up why their team got involved.
Backpacks are required all-year long, so if you’d like to help make a difference for a young student, reach out April Day at United Way Northumberland via email at aday@nuw.unitedway.ca or call 905-372-6955, extension 108.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
