United Way partners with Stericycle Communication Solutions and Farmington Rotary to offer backpacks and school supplies through Packs for Progress.
Donations and volunteers are needed.
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, Farmington Rotary, and Stericycle Communication Solutions are partnering to offer backpacks filled with essential school supplies through Packs for Progress.
This program is made possible because of this unique collaboration, and with the generous support of the following: L.L. Bean, ReEnergy Holdings LLC, TD Bank employees and patrons (Farmington Branch), Wiles Remembrance Centers, Gordon Excavating Inc., Otis Federal Credit Union, and Meader’s Construction.
Liz Kinaley of MAS Homecare said, "As a case manager with MAS Homecare, I work with children and families in the area that need extra support. Without United Way's help, the kids I work with would not be able to have school supplies to start their year off right. Whenever I go to the kids houses and give them a stuffed backpack, it is like Christmas! Their little faces just light up and they can't wait to go to school."
21% of Franklin County’s children live in poverty, and 55% of the county’s school-aged children qualify for free or reduced lunch (Maine Kids Count, 2013-14). This program relieves some of the economic burden on parents and to help kids succeed in school. Packs for Progress, which is in its fourth year, promises to make an even bigger impact on students’ success this year. 250 backpacks were stuffed last year, and this year’s goal is 400- an increase of 328 students supported from the 72 that were distributed in the first year.
Donations are needed to help reach this new goal. Supplies or cash donations may be dropped off at United Way at 232 Broadway in Farmington or at TD Bank in Farmington. Requested items include 3-hole punched lined paper, 1” binders, pencils, pens, spiral bound notebooks, erasers, and composition books.
On August 12th from 4 – 6 PM, Stericycle is hosting a backpack stuffing event, along with United Way staff and volunteers. Community members are invited to join in and help fill the backpacks so that they will be ready to go for the students. Volunteers can sign up on GetConnected.VolunteerMaine.org or call 778-5048. This event will happen rain or shine.
Those interested in reserving a backpack may call United Way at 778-5048. Recipients must be from Franklin County, Starks, Livermore, or Livermore Falls. Backpacks may be picked at United Way August 13th or August 14th from 8 – 4 pm.