United Way Distributes 758 Stuffed School Backpacks

For more than 15 years, the United Way of Tri-County Tools for School program has been providing local children and youth with backpacks full of grade-specific school supplies to ensure they start the school year ready to learn.

This year, United Way of Tri-Countyhas been working throughout the summer to prepare 758 backpacks.

These backpacks support local children in need in the MetroWest/495 Corridor.

This year 24 local businesses, churches, and countless individuals sponsored children to receive backpacks and supplies.

United Way of Tri-County is working with 20 partner agencies in the community to distribute the backpacks to children whose families would otherwise struggle to afford the. Volunteers from the community lent their time to pack the backpacks with everything from crayons for kindergarteners to calculators for high school students, and everything in between.

Volunteers will help distribute backpacks during the last two weeks of August at the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley (Maynard), Children’s After School Programs, Inc. (CHAPS – Hudson), Framingham Coalition, Greater Framingham Community Church, MetroWest YMCA (Framingham branch), Milford Youth Center, and Pelham Apartments (Framingham).

Barbara LaGrenade, Director of Volunteerism at the United Way of Tri-County, said, “It is truly inspiring to see so many agencies coming together to help local children in need. We are grateful for the support we receive from our community, and our collective efforts are making a difference in the lives of so many children. For these kids, backpacks and supplies are a first and very important step toward succeeding in the coming school year.”

As the cost of school supplies rises, it becomes more difficult for families who are struggling to afford school supplies. According to the National Retail Federation, a family can expect to pay an average of $98 dollars for basic school supplies like backpacks, pens, and notebooks.

United Way of Tri-County’s Tools for School program gives local children the tools they need to thrive at no cost to their families.

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PHOTOS:

Framingham Coalition – (from left)Bob Davis (Framingham Coalition) and Jessica Friswell (UWTC) were joined by Semion Simkin (EMC) to give backpacks full of supplies to Framingham families through UWTC’s Tools for School program.

MetroWest YMCA – (from left)Jessica Friswell (UWTC), Bob MacLea (The TJX Companies), Greg Franks (Comcast), and Vikki Cibotti (Bose) brought backpacks to the MetroWest YMCA in Framingham for children who will be entering kindergarten this fall.