Back-to-school season is almost here and for many families, that means checking off those long supply lists, which can add up fast, but one local group is helping to take the pressure off. Sunrise Rotary Charities hosted its annual ‘backpack for kids’ giveaway, making sure students head into the school year ready to learn and feel confident. The event handed out backpacks filled with essentials and if you missed it, there’s still time to get what your kids need.
”Today’s about smiles,” said David Payne, President Sunrise Rotary Charities. “They open up the bag and wow look at all the supplies we get.”
Sunrise Rotary Charities has been doing this event for the Traverse City Area Public Schools for over 2 decades. They say every year since then the demand for back to school supplies is higher.
“With the increasing costs and the challenges faces that some faced by families in our community,” said Sue Brown, Volunteer. “it’s very important to help out in any way we can. So that’s how we like to help out. And we have for 21 years with backpacks and school supplies because it is a huge expense.”
The backpacks are full of supplies all purchased from fundraisers hosted by the Sunrise Rotary Charities. They are all categorized by grades so each student has the supplies they need.
“We’ve got age appropriate backpacks,” said Payne. “We’ve got three different age sections. There is kindergarten through third, fourth and fifth, and then we’ve got a high school, middle school backpacks. Those are a little bit bigger, a little stronger, able to hold a tablet. Where the younger kids, we focus more on the crayons and the paper, highlighters.”
If you missed the event and your student goes to TCAPS you can reach out to your school and they will have extra backpacks to provide.
Sue brown has been volunteering since the beginning and she says every year it’s so exciting to see the kids excited.
“Oh, talk about that positive energy,” said Brown. “It’s just so exciting to see them and their faces. They get so excited when they see their backpacks and the school supplies. And it just helps kick off their year and the parents seem relieved to have the support.”
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