Northumberland rallies for ‘Backpacks for Kids’
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‘There’s always a need in our community’: Donations still needed
By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt
More than 50 volunteers answered the call throughout the day on Tuesday, Aug. 11 to help United Way Northumberland ensure local kids have a smooth start to the school year with the supplies needed to achieve success in the classroom.
From local leaders to police chiefs, councillors, business leaders, county officials and more, they all answered the call to help stuff “Backpacks for Kids” at the Cobourg Lions Community Centre.
“There’s always a need in our community and with the rising cost of living, that need continues to grow,” said Alicia Vandine, executive director of United Way Northumberland. “‘Backpacks for Kids’ is about uplifting families and children and making sure no child starts the school year without new supplies of their own.
“It’s a small thing that makes a big difference (and) when kids have what they need, they walk into that first day with confidence.”
A long-standing tradition for United Way this time of year, the community never hesitates to answer the call, and volunteers rally to help in a hands-on way by physically stuffing backpacks with donated school supplies for kids and youth across Northumberland and Alderville First Nation.
This year marks the 21st year for the program, which helps students from Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 12 “start the school year with the tools they need.”
To make this program possible, it’s truly a community effort, powered by local businesses, sponsors, service clubs and donation drive partners, including this year’s partnership with Sarah and Brett Turck, of Sherwood Mortgage Group, noted United Way. The Turcks also brought back their “Stuff the Truck” donation drive in Port Hope earlier this month to give the fundraiser a major boost.
In other words, the initiative may be managed by United Way, but the program relies heavily on community support.
However, despite a huge outpouring of support, help is still needed as demand continues to soar. In particular, binders, lined paper, crayons and pencil crayons in still high in demand.
And while the stuff the backpack event is the big push, Vandine also noted that this program runs year-round. This is to ensure help is also there during semester changes or changes in circumstances or simply when the need for help arises, she explained.
Donations can be dropped off at United Way Northumberland at 62 Swayne St., Cobourg, from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Online donations can also be made via www.mynuw.org.
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