Pack-a-backpack continues forward as school nears
MARSHALL COUNTY — As school corporations in the county look at how they will safely open in the fall, the Plymouth FOP Lodge 195 is helping to make sure children have what they need to succeed when they do go back.
According to FOP Lodge 195 President Hurshel Hunter, he had met with school counselors who said they were taking only the bare minimum until school started.
“We’re traveling down a road, we’ve never been down,” Hunter said.
“It’s the unknown,” FOP Member and Indiana State Police officer Laurie Lemler said, agreeing with Hunter. “People are fearful, all human beings are fearful of the unknown. So, we’re trying to make this better.”
The FOP has been collecting donations for Pack-a-backpack, which allows for students that are in need to have the tools to get through the school year. The Pack-abackpack program is not just for Plymouth schools, but all school systems in the county.
Hunter stated that they are not seeking donations of backpacks, but essential items that include (but not limited to) pencils, pencils boxes, crayons, hand sanitizer, and headphones. If you’re looking to donate masks, the best option would be prepackaged masks.
“Pioneer Seed employees are collecting much needed school supplies in conjunction with Pioneer Seed,” Hunter said.
Another organization that is helping with raising funds is Country Auto Center. During the month of July, the business, located at 2705 N. Michigan Street, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. On Saturday, July 18, Country Auto Center will hold a celebration from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Bruce’s BBQ will be on hand as a food vendor. Kids will be entertained with activities.
“The whole month of July, which it’s already been started, we’ll be doing daily drawings that you can come in and fill out an entry form. At the end of the month, we’ll have a grand prize drawing,” said Julie Sanders from Country Auto Center. She also said there will be multiple vehicle sales and many other incentives for the month.
“The whole month of July every car, new or used, we sell, $30, for our 30-year anniversary, is going to the Plymouth FOP for Packa-backpack,” said Sanders. She added that Country Auto Center also acts as a drop off center for school supplies.
If you’d like to donate to Pack-a-backpack, contact the Plymouth FOP Lodge 195 at 574-952-0012. Or you can visit their website, www.plymouthfop.com or also their Facebook page by searching “Plymouth FOP”