Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee’s Salvation Army is currently accepting registration for its Back-to-School Backpack Program.
From now until Aug. 20, families in need can call 613-354-7633 to get on the list to receive necessities of school such as backpacks, paper, pencils, crayons, markers, notebooks, scissors, math sets and water bottles.
School might be the furthest thing from people’s minds in July, but Abby Mills, director of community ministries for the Napanee Salvation Army, expects demand for school supplies to be high this year. By starting early they can have the supplies to students before the first day of school.
Mills said the Salvation Army began compiling a list of students in need back in March, but knows there are still several out there who missed out on registering when schools went to virtual learning. That’s why they’ve extended the opportunity to the summer.
“We really just wanted to reach out directly to the community so that families had the opportunity to register their kids for the program,” said Mills.
Current numbers registered for the backpack program are down from previous years, but those are expected to rise as soon as more people become aware of the registration.
“If we base it simply on the food bank service, we’ve increased more than 100 per cent since the pandemic started,” said Mills. “We’re anticipating a lot of kids are going to need the help to get the supplies they need to succeed in school. I truly believe helping kids get a good education is one of the cornerstones to helping them move out of poverty.”
Providing the basics for students who otherwise would go without can make a huge difference in the long term.
“Without a good education at the elementary and secondary level, they may not ever be able to pursue anything post secondary or even in the near term they continue to fall behind and they’re not able to complete assignments that the teachers send home and they just give up,” said Mills. “They tell themselves they’re not smart enough, they can’t keep up. If we can equip them with the basic school supplies, everything to pencils right through to scientific calculators for high school, then we’re helping them to get the foundation they need to be successful in life.”
Those who want to help with the campaign can donate items to 82 Richard St. in Napanee or make financial donations through https://qrgo.page.link/Z2W8v. Donations of $20 or more will be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
Mills said they are still working out details as to how the supplies will be distributed, whether they will be home delivery like last year or pickup from the Salvation Army building. The program assists children throughout the Lennox and Addington County region from Amherstview all the way to North Addington Education Centre and everywhere in between.