Backpack To School Returns

ORLEANS – The start of a new school year is just around the corner. For parents, that means shopping for back-to-school supplies. But with prices still on the rise, it sometimes can be hard for families to purchase the things they need to start the new year off on the right foot.

 The Homeless Prevention Council is working to help relieve the burden for local families in need through its annual Backpack to School drive. The Orleans-based nonprofit is collecting donated backpacks and other school supplies, which they will bundle together for families to pick up in time for the start of classes.

 The backpack drive is one of HPC’s cornerstone fundraisers, and Jenna Smith, the nonprofit’s special projects coordinator, said demand for materials through the drive continues to increase. As of this week, approximately 250 clients had already registered for help through the campaign, she said.

 “Which is 84 more (registrations) than we did at this point last year,” Smith said, adding that she expects HPC will prepare about 400 backpacks in the coming weeks.

 In addition to backpacks, HPC is also collecting other back-to-school basics including notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, markers, erasers, glue bottles and glue sticks, pencil cases, folders and scissors. New additions such as scientific calculators and water bottles have also made the list this year.

 “The thing that makes our program stand out a little bit is we don’t just ask for generic school supplies,” said Terri Barron, HPC’s program officer who has been coordinating this year’s backpack drive alongside Smith. “Jenna’s contacted all the schools and she has a list depending on what the school is and what the grade level is. She knows exactly the requirements of what each child will need depending on what grade they’re going into.”

 The donated items help provide some financial relief to families who might be struggling to keep up with expenses. HPC’s website puts the value of a backpack of supplies for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at $100. The cost only goes up from there, with an estimated value of $150 for students in first through fourth grade, $200 for students in fifth through eighth grade and $250 for high school students.

 “That’s why we make these backpacks so customized,” Smith said. “If we can take the burden off parents, maybe they can use that money toward a bill.”

 HPC has also worked this year to make donating items easier. The HPC website includes a link to a specialized Amazon wish list. With just one click, people can purchase items on the list that will be donated directly to HPC’s Main Street office.

 “We have boxes coming in like crazy,” Smith said.

 A number of local businesses also have collection boxes where people can drop off donated items in person (see sidebar for list of participating businesses). Smith said HPC staff and volunteers will be picking up donated items at the collection locations on Aug. 18. Monetary donations, meanwhile, will be accepted on an ongoing basis, she said.

 Beyond materials, Smith said HPC is also collecting gift certificates that families can use to purchase back-to-school clothes and shoes. Those include $25 gift cards for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and $50 gift cards for students entering grades six through 12. The goal is to provide a gift card to go with each backpack, she said.

 HPC will pack up backpacks with the help of volunteers. When backpacks are ready, families will be notified and asked to set up a time to stop by the office and pick them up.

 This year we have a new volunteer,” Smith said. “She’s going to bring her friends and they’re just going to have a backpack stuffing party. The volunteers, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”

 While Backpack to School is geared around providing support to families around the start of the new school year, Smith said the campaign also opens the door for clients to receive additional help as needed. Through the campaign, clients can also be put in touch with case managers that can help them address housing and food insecurity, financial instability or other issues they might be facing.

 “We send you off with a backpack, but it doesn’t just stop at the backpack. We have case managers that work with you to make sure you’re financially stable, whatever it is that’s come your way.”

 For more information about HPC or to register or donate for Backpack to School, visit www.hpccapecod.org.

 Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com

Where To Donate

All locations

8 Main St., Orleans

45 Cranberry Hwy., Orleans

2632 Main St., Brewster

98 Rt. 6A, Orleans

44 Main St., Orleans

136 Rt. 6A, Orleans

5 Old Colony Way, Orleans

22 Main St., Orleans

637  Main St., Chatham

26 Shank Painter Rd.

99 Eldredge Park Way

249 George Ryder Rd.

631 Harwich Rd.

2550 State Highway