Salvation Army Backpack Programs Assist Families in Need
Ottawa Citadel Provides Backpacks for Students
The Salvation Army Ottawa Citadel is supporting local children with school supplies in order to be successful in their studies.
The Ottawa Citadel has handed out about 20 backpacks filled with pencils, erasers, scissors, rulers, coloured pencils, exercise books, duo tangs, masks and hand sanitizer.
“We handed out flyers about the backpack program to community families that enrolled in our day camp this summer and word spread quickly,” said Salvation Army Ottawa Citadel Corps Officer, Dwayne LeDrew. “The backpacks were well received, and people were so appreciative.”
The program was funded by the Rotary Club and The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign. Families can contact the Ottawa Citadel at 613-731-0165 if they are still in need of supplies.
Backpacks for Kids Helps 62 students in New Liskeard
Students in New Liskeard will return ready for class with a new backpack from The Salvation Army Temiskaming Shores Community Church in New Liskeard.
The Backpacks for Kids program returns this fall to hand out new packs, water bottles and lunch bags to students in need. The supplies will be handed out to 62 applicants ranging from kindergarten to high school-age students in the community.
“The demand this year is as great as ever and we want to ensure students start class with these important school supplies,” says Temiskaming Shores Community Church Corps Officer Lt. Robbie Donaldson.
“We want to thank everyone who donated to the program. It will bring smiles to the faces of students on the first day of school.”
One mother with three children between ages of 4 and 10 accessed the program to receive a backpack, water bottle and lunch bag, an expense that would have cost her a lot of her monthly budget.
“This is a very successful program that makes a huge difference to students in need,” Lt. Robbie says.
Backpacks Handed out to Students in Agincourt
More than 600 children will have smiles on their faces and packs on their backs from The Salvation Army Agincourt Community Church. This fall, backpacks are being distributed by The Salvation Army to elementary and secondary school students in the Agincourt neighbourhood of Scarborough and in Markham.
The demand for backpacks and school supplies increases every year, says Fae Sturge, Salvation Army Community and Family Services Coordinator at Agincourt Community Church.
“Being provided with a backpack and the tools needed to be successful in school makes all the difference to the students we assist. They might be very basic supplies of a pencil case or notebook, but it lets kids know they are not different from other kids,” Fae says.
A committed group of teenage mission partner volunteers stuffed the backpacks, which will be handed out starting on August 28 in Scarborough.
