A Promise and A Challenge

Believe it or not, there are students about to go to school whose families lack the means to purchase all of the supplies they might need.

To help with that, Baltimore County has a Back-to-School Program that allows residents to adopt students or donate school supplies or money to help provide the supplies that can get these children off on the right foot this school year.

Donors can adopt a family of students or an individual student through direct adoption or by donations of funds, gift cards, and/or actual school supplies, according to the county release.

"In just three weeks, children all across Baltimore County will be returning to their classrooms to begin a new school year," County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said in a statement released Friday. "We must remember those students whose families lack the means to provide them with all the supplies they need for school. We need to make sure that all of our children get off to a great start."

There are over 450 children in need of adoption in the school supply program, according to county estimates.

The county estimates the cost of school supplies on the list is about $50 but I'm sure they would accept anything that you can give. You can check out the county's page to see how to find out the program's needs which are based on the ages and grades of the students in need.

Giving back to the community is a core principle at Patch. The company even encourages employees to volunteer time through it's Give Five program where employees are given time off to volunteer in their communities.

This is my home. I can remember my mom doing without so that my sister and I had the things we needed.

This is a great way to give back.

I promise to provide school supplies to one student. I hope you'll join me in whatever way you can whether it's just some supplies or adopting a student.

Donations are accepted at the Volunteer Office in the Drumcastle Center, 6401 York Road, 21212. For additional information, please call the Social Services Volunteer Office at 410-853-3024.