Collecting Backpacks, School Supplies Don’t discard or store this year’s backpack…Donate it to Your Watertown Urban Mission!
(Watertown, NY – June 4, 2013) With summer vacation right around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about your neighbors in need as you figure out what to do with the gently used backpack and school supplies your child will not need for next year.
“Many students are blessed to start each school year with a new backpack and supplies, but for thousands of their peers in Jefferson County, the start of the school year is a struggle,” said Erika Flint, executive director. “We hope that as your kids grow out of their backpacks or if you plan to start your child off with a new bag for a new year, that rather than throwing the old pack out, you donate it to ensure another child has a bag for next year.”
Every fall, the Watertown Urban Mission gives backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need. In 2012, more than 1,200 students received a backpack with a starter kit of supplies to prepare these children to get the most out of their education.
“Over the last three years, we have seen the need grow from about 800 students to more than 1,200,” said Joanna Fassett, Critical Needs Coordinator. “Last year, this community stepped up and you provided the supplies needed to meet this growing need. We expect to see similar numbers this year and once again, we need your help to meet that need with school supplies and gently used backpacks, which we are collecting now in preparation for this year’s distribution in late August.”
Each backpack is tailored for different age groups so that pre-K and Kindergarten students receive age appropriate supplies, while elementary, middle school and high school students receive supplies appropriate for their needs. These backpacks are pre-packed and the students have the opportunity just before the school year starts to come to the Mission and pick out their favorite one, giving each child supplies they need, while also maintaining a sense of dignity for the family.
To donate your backpack or other school supplies to the Critical Needs Program, simply bring them to the drop off zone behind the Watertown Urban Mission and Impossible Dream Thrift Store at 247 Factory St., Watertown, or contact Joanna Fassett, Critical Needs Coordinator, at 315-782-8440. For a list of supplies to donate, see below, or go to www.WatertownUrbanMission.com and download the “School Supplies Needed” flier. Thank you for your support.
Items that you can donate to help your neighbors in need include:
Backpacks
Pencils
Pens
Crayons
Markers
Highlighters
Colored pencils
Dry Erase Markers
Lined Paper
Spiral notebooks
Index cards
1” Binders
Calculators
Pencil boxes
Rulers
Scissors
Glue sticks
Hand sanitizer