What If You Couldn't Afford a Backpack for Your Kindergartner?

State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) teamed up with Norwalk’s Head Start staff Tuesday morning to ask the public's help collecting backpacks for children whose families cannot afford essential school supplies. There are 196 Head Start graduates transitioning into the Norwalk Public Schools this fall.

“If we want to help our children succeed in school, the best thing we can do is ensure they are well prepared to learn. Part of that means providing them with basic school supplies like backpacks and pencils,” said Senator Duff in a release, adding that many of Norwalk's neediest children cannot afford essential school supplies.

Donations sought:

• regular-size backpacks (large enough to fit a library book and a lunchbox)
• boxes of 24 crayons
• boxes of pencils
• glue sticks 
• other school supplies 

The drive runs from Tuesday through August 28th. Gift cards or checks made out to "NCDP" are also welcome.

Donations may be dropped off at any of the following locations:

1. Nathaniel Ely School, 11 Ingalls Avenue, Norwalk, CT

2. Ben Franklin Center, 165 Flax Hill Rd, Norwalk, CT

August 28th will be the first day of staggered entry for Norwalk Public Schools, as half of the incoming Kindergarten class; Grades 1 through 5; Grade 6; Grades 9 and 12 at Norwalk High; and Grade 9 at Brien McMahon begin school that day. August 29th will be the first day of school for all other students.

"No child should get off to a slow start in Kindergarten for lack of a backpack," said Duff. "If everyone who is able contributes a small amount, we can make sure these needs are met.”