IT’S IN THE BAG
Donation drive: Annual program Build-a-bag gives 400 backpacks to students
An annual tradition may have looked a little different this year, but still made a big difference for those in need.
North Penn School District staff have collected and donated over 400 backpacks full of school supplies to kids in need, as part of the district’s third annual “Build-a-bag” backpack drive.
“Sometimes, the toothless smile of a first grader, it really makes your day. It brings to the forefront why we’re here in our mission,” said Christine Liberaski,
Executive Director of the NPSD Educational Foundation.
“We want a ll k ids to have an equitable education, and a filled backpack is part of that,” she said.
Star ting in 2 018 , the foundation has coordinated the collection of donated supplies at businesses throughout the district, and brought together volunteers in a day of packing the supplies into the backpacks to prepare them for donation via school counselors to students in need. Due to COVID-19, this year the donation drive looked different: supplies were donated in
“We want all kids to have an equitable education, and a filled backpack is part of that.” — Christine Liberaski, NPSD Educational Foundation Executive Director.
“I know that there are a lot of families out there that are not able to buy the things that we need it put in the backpacks.” — volunteer Bonnie Knauss
person and online through registries at local Target and Walmart stores, according to the district, and nearly 100 donors contributed more than $6,000 total to purchase the supplies needed.
“We have sponsors from far and wide, all across our region, that are giving back to the community, and this is really important: to make sure that those children that absolutely need these supplies, have them, so that way they have a successful school year,” said State Rep. Steve Malagari, D-53rd, in a video posted by the district’s NPTV channel.
The foundation also used proceeds from its third annual “North Penn Strong” clothing sale fundraiser, which sold over 1,300 items and raised nearly $4,300, according to the district. Backpacks were provided for elementary level students, along with gift cards, from the
Costco store in Montgomery Township, while Dick’s Sporting Goods gave the foundation a discount on backpacks for secondary students.
Other donations included the use of space at the J.L. Freed Honda former showroom in Hatfield to use as a storage and sorting space for the supplies, donated by company president and ed foundation board member Donald Franks, and various district employees,
school board members and foundation board members bought and delivered supplies to contribute.
Other changes for 2020 included the addition of earbud headphones to the backpacks, to help students listen in on laptops while learning remotely, and a socially-distanced packing day earlier this month where masked staff and volunteers helped sort and stuff the supplies into backpacks.
“I think this year in particular, it’s so important for our kids to feel connected to the schools, and even for our community to feel connected to our schools,” Liberaski said.
Volunteer Tim Loux said this month’s drive was his third, and he enjoys “helping out for the community,” while volunteer Bonnie Knauss said she felt the drive was more important than ever due to COVID-19
and the resulting business closures and job losses.
“I know that there are a lot of families out there that are not able to buy the things that we need it put in the backpacks,” she said.
The foundation’s first backpack drive in 2018 collected and donated over 300 backpacks, the 2019 drive topped 375, and the 2020 drive produced more than 400 backpacks, donated to students across the district, according to Liberaski and district Communications and Development Specialist Kaity Andrey.
“Once again, we are humbled and grateful — but never surprised — by the outstanding response from our community partners,” Liberaski said.
“Together, we are and always will be #NorthPennStrong. And we simply couldn’t do it without you,” Liberaski said.
For more information on the North Penn Educational Foundation visit www.NPennEdFoundation. org or search for “NPSD Educational Foundation” on Facebook.