Stuff-a-Backpack Drive Exceeds Last Year's Results

Nearly 200 needy students received school supplies this year thanks to the 's annual stuff-a-backpack collection, a department official said Thursday.

Clawson Detective Lt. Scott Sarvello said the department delivered 188 stuffed backpacks to Clawson schools the week before school started. The first day of school was Sept. 6. This was an increase from last year when they distributed 154 bags.

Sarvello said the department's collection and drive raised about $900 in addition to school supplies the community donated.

"Once again this backpack drive was very successful with the help and contributions from many citizens, the Clawson Schools PTA's, residents of the Clawson Manor, the Clawson American Legion, GFWC Clawson Juniors and others," Sarvello said on Thursday.

The department started the initiative over the summer with a collection box for supplies at City Hall and a backpack drive at the Farmers Market on Aug. 21. 

Sarvello said residents of the took up a cash collection and donated more than $150 to the backpack drive.

Sarvello said the schools passed out the individual bags to students in need and parents signed their kids up for a bag in advance.