The Barry County United Way is excited to help local children K-12 grade start the school year off right by partnering with our community for our annual Backpack Program. The Backpack Program has been in operation for over 17 years and continues because those who choose to donate. This program runs completely on donations of items from the list provided and also by utilizing monetary donations that come in to support it.
Lani Forbes, Executive Director of Barry County United Way, “We are so blessed to have an amazing community who supports our local youth. This program could not happen without our generous donors and volunteers.”
Some of the items needed include: backpacks, notebooks, 3 ring binders, folders, pencils, pencil boxes, washable markers, colored pencils, crayons and more. A full list of what is needed can be found on the Barry County United Way’s Facebook page.
Families who qualify are able to schedule an appoint for their children to choose their own new backpack and fill it with the supplies that they need to start the school year off right. Forbes explained, “Last year this program helped send almost 300 local children back to school with NEW supplies. We understand that our economy continues to change and that the need will likely increase this year.”
The goal of this program is to ensure that every youth in Barry County is able to go back to school feeling confident and ready with all of the supplies they need in hand on the first day of school. Donations of NEW items can be dropped off during the event itself or to the following locations at any time:
Barry County United Way in Hastings; any Highpoint Community Bank location; Edward Jones offices in Hastings, Nashville and Middleville; any Thornapple Credit Union location; Rehmann (formally Walker, Fluke & Sheldon Hastings).
Families who are in need of school supplies are encouraged to call the Barry County United Way at 269-945-4010 to qualify for this program starting Monday, July 22, 2024 up until the start of the 2024/2025 school year.
