Backpack drive brings in supplies for local students
A celebration held Aug. 19 highlighted the nearly 100 backpacks and thousands of school supplies donated to Georgetown Elementary School through a community-wide drive organized by Westminster Presbyterian Church. The initiative was created to help ease the financial burden on families and ensure students begin the school year prepared with all necessary classroom materials.
The effort began earlier this summer when Jim Miller, co-chair of the Westminster Presbyterian Church Mission and Outreach Committee, partnered with other local churches, businesses, organizations and residents to coordinate a community effort supporting local students. As a frequent volunteer reader, Miller saw the need with his own eyes and decided to step up to help. What started as a small goal quickly grew into a county-wide effort, with numerous donors contributing to ensure students had everything they needed for the classroom.
“Some kids come to school and their parents can't afford a backpack,” said Miller. “They'll come in with a Ziploc bag with one of his brothers or sisters’ crayons and pencils from the year before. They're all worn down because they can't afford [new] supplies. So that's why we're super excited to be able to help them and to help the teachers not have to spend so much.”
In total, the drive gathered 96 backpacks, 56 headphones, 1,578 pencils, 168 boxes of crayons, 169 pairs of scissors, 182 pocket folders, 160 composition books, 202 erasers, 100 dry-erase markers, 568 glue sticks, and thousands of index cards and sticky notes. Donations also included 75 canisters of disinfecting wipes, 984 colored pencils, 180 cans of Play-Doh, 48 packs of tape, 850 push-pin clips, 2,800 sticky fasteners, 136 pencil pouches, and 48 fine-tip markers.
“We were hoping to get 50 packed backpacks,” said Miller. “And we’ve blown that away.”
The effort was supported by Westminster Presbyterian Church, Georgetown Presbyterian Church, Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, the Philanthropic Educational Organization, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, and Rehoboth Beach Police Department.
“Thank you all,” said Miller. “This was truly a big effort between everybody.”
The donation presentation was held at Georgetown Elementary, where district leaders, administration, education staff and community members gathered to celebrate the results. The organized displays of the supplies showcased the major impact of such contributions to the students.
“Not only does it touch us as our school staff, but it extends well into the community with our families as well,” said Georgetown Elementary School Principal Beth Illian.
