Due to the tremendous response from local businesses, churches and community members, this year’s Build a Backpack school supply drive was a huge success. The drive, which was coordinated by the United Way of Chatham County, collected backpacks, notebooks, binders, paper, pencils, crayons and other supplies.
“The response from the community has been truly overwhelming,” commented Dina Reynolds, Executive Director of the United Way of Chatham County. “We received over 250 backpacks this year and 100 of them were laptop backpacks. This is especially important because Chatham County is one of the few North Carolina counties that issues laptop computers to all high school students.”
“This year’s drive collected more supplies than any other year,” said United Way School Supply Drive Coordinator Alane Coore. “This was the result of several new collection efforts, including those of Briar Chapel, David Weekley Homes and Governors Club.”
The supplies will be distributed by the Chatham County Schools’ Basic Needs Program. Those in need of school supplies should contact their child’s school guidance counselor. The counselor will contact the Basic Needs Coordinator for Chatham County Schools to make arrangements for your child to receive the supplies that are required by their teacher.
“We are very appreciative of the community’s consideration of our students,” said Rose Marie Rovito, Basic Needs Coordinator for Chatham County Schools. “Because of their concern and participation, our children in need will go to school better equipped to succeed.”
United Way delivered 45 backpacks to the Chatham County Department of Social Services (DSS) to distribute to the children in the foster care program, as well as 60 backpacks to Communities in Schools. The backpacks were filled with the items listed on each students school supply list for their specific grade. “The kids love their durable new backpacks. The community has been very generous with supplies for our children. We are so grateful for this support,” commented Caitlin Clay, Chatham County DSS Children’s Services Social Worker.
Area businesses and churches that collected school supplies for the Build a Backpack school supply drive include: Briar Chapel, Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, Chapel Ridge, Chatham County Department of Social Services, David Weekley Homes, Eastern Chatham Senior Center, Governors Club, Pittsboro Presbyterian Church, Realty World Carolina Properties, Virginia Cross Elementary School and the Western Chatham Senior Center.
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