As the economy continues to languish, families are forced to make decisions regarding how money is spent. When a family has to pay for heat, food, and rent, purchasing school supplies is often not the highest priority. The stigma of poverty has an enormous effect on children, especially when their peers do not live under similar conditions and are able to return to school each year with new backpacks and supplies. Unlike other charities that have many overhead expenses, 100% of the donations received by the Backpacks for Kids Foundation go directly to the children in need. By donating backpacks to children who need it most, we create a sense of belonging and give hope for their future.
Over the past twenty years, the Backpacks for Kids Foundation has donated over 12,000 backpacks to children in need as identified by the Service Councils in the towns of Boston, Natick, Ashland, Needham, Cambridge, Framingham, Wellesley, Dorchester, Worcester, Braintree, Medway, MSPCC, and the Department of Social Services in Attleboro.
The Backpacks for Kids Foundation relies on the kind donations from the community and from various retail stores in order to provide school supplies to the children. Since there is a steep increase in the number of families staying in shelters and transitional housing, more children need our support. This year, our goal is to donate a minimum of 650 quality backpacks filled with school supplies.