Help Kids Start the School Year Ready to Learn

Going back to school can be an exciting time for children and teens, but many families served by The Village can’t afford uniforms and supplies. You can help by donating backpacks filled with school supplies, and gift cards for uniforms.

The Glastonbury Auxiliary of The Village is serving as a drop-off location for donations at its Second Chance Shop, 730 Hebron Avenue, throughout the summer. The Shop’s summer hours are Wednesdays, 10am - 4pm. The deadline for donations is Wednesday, August 12.

For a complete list of needed supplies, organized by grade level, visit www.thevillage.org/backpack.

One middle-schooler who received supplies summed it up perfectly, “This is awesome! Thank you! I didn’t have anything at home and was worried about starting school with nothing.”

For more information, contact Rebekah Castagno, development coordinator with The Village, at rcastagno@thevillage.org or 860-236-4511 x3488. Or, call the Second Chance Shop for details about hours and drop-offs: 860-633-5188.

For more than 200 years, The Village for Families & Children has been working to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children. The Village fulfills this mission by providing a full range of children’s behavioral health treatment, foster care and adoption, and support services for children and their families in the Greater Hartford region. For more information, visit www.thevillage.org or call 860-236-4511.

PHOTO CAPTION: Last year, Matthew McCoy, pictured with his mom Amy, asked for backpack donations for The Village in lieu of birthday gifts.