Another successful year for Operation Backpack
Operation Backpack was launched in 2015 with a goal of equipping students in need with the necessary school supplies to start the year off on the right foot.
Thanks to community support and a group of dedicated volunteers, the campaign was able to provide another group of students with backpacks and supplies this year.
“It’s going exceptionally well,” said Kathryne Owen, Community Outreach
Coordinator for the Lennoxville and District Women’s Centre, which now manages the campaign.
Owen said the campaign surpassed its $10,000 funding goal this year and was able to provide backpacks to between 80100 students at Lennoxville Elementary School and Alexander Galt High School, including a number of feeder schools where students will be heading to Galt for the first time.
Owen credited the hard work of the Operation Backpack committee and volunteers for the success of the campaign.
“This committee wears all hats all the time,” she said, explaining they are ambassadors for the campaign wherever they go, always trying to increase visibility and find new ways to fundraise to level the playing field for students with families in financial difficulty. They also bargain shop, organize and assemble all the supplies by grade and deliver them to the schools for pick-up. “They do it all,” she said. Owen added that in addition to donations from individuals, several local churches, businesses and other community organizations have been supporting Operation Backpack consistently since it launched in 2015.
A testament to the importance of the campaign, Owen said that Operation Backpack received a donation from the
Prom Fairies this year.
While Operation Backpack helps students start school on the right foot, the Prom Fairies campaign aims to help graduating students in need end their high school careers on a high note.
The Prom Fairies managed to help the students on their list and had a surplus at the end of last year’s campaign.
Understanding the importance of starting the year off right, Owen said the Prom Fairies donated their surplus to Operation Backpack.
The more backpacks the better
The Sherbrooke Rotary Club also has a backpack campaign, now in its eighth year, directed towards students entering elementary school for the first time.
Last week, the Rotary Club handed out 326 bags to English and French schools from Bury to Stanstead.
Thanks to the generosity of Townshippers and dedicated volunteers, over 400 students from across the Townships will walk into schools this week with heads held high and backpacks full of everything they need for a successful year.