A backpack drive now under way at the United Church of Rowayton for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is to have more children start the next school year with backpacks filled with school must-haves
From now until Aug. 15, the meeting house behind the church at 210 Rowayton Ave. in Rowayton will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive backpacks.
Suggested items are:
- tissues, black and colored pencils, pens, crayons, geometric stencils, compasses, erasers, rulers, tape, file folders, glue sticks, scissors, notebooks, paper, pencil sharpeners, White Out, staplers, staples and calculators.
Only a few of the items need to be included.
The loaded backpacks will be delivered to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for distribution directly to needy students from kindergarten to high school.
“We have a list of needy students and deliver the backpacks directly to children in their homes, said Wisenite Laurent of the DCF. “The students are so surprised and happy to be given the backpacks. The backpacks are filled with items they need for the new school year.
“The parents are happy, too, because school supplies are increasingly expensive,” Laurent said.
This is the fourth year of the backpack drive, organized by the church’s Board of Christian Outreach (BOCO).
“This is a very successful program,” says Bill Peltz, BOCO chairman. “In 2015, 69 backpacks were contributed. In 2016, we gave 120 backpacks. We hope to make 2017 even better. The program is a great way for the students to start the new school year.”
For questions, phone or email Bill Peltz at (203) 853-2498 or whpeltz@gmail.com.