Thirty-five volunteers filled and distributed the backpacks, which were picked up by students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 at the Oakes Center on Sept. 1 and 2. In addition to essential school supplies, children were able to select books from a large collection.
The school-supplies drive began in 2012 with the goal of helping students start the academic year with the tools they need for success. This year’s effort was supported by Christ Child Society funding, a donation from the Summit Elks Club and a grant from the Summit Luminary Fund.
Backpacks also were donated to GRACE, Family Promise and New Community in Newark. Additional supplies were made available to Summit schools, extending the reach of the volunteer effort beyond the initial distribution days.
The drive reflects a simple but meaningful need at the beginning of each school year: children arrive prepared when families have access to notebooks, folders, writing supplies and other basics. By pairing donations with volunteer time and local partnerships, the organizations helped turn those supplies into ready-to-use backpacks for hundreds of students.
The Christ Child Society of Summit is a volunteer organization made up of members from varied faiths and backgrounds who work to support under-resourced children and their families. More information is available at christchildsummit.org.
