Bethel Back-To-School Backpack Drive Kicks Off

BETHEL, CT — The town may have canceled the annual Back-to-School Backpack Party this year, but the needs for which the event was created haven't gone away.

Each year a select number of the town's children have enjoyed a pizza party with raffle prizes and free back-to-school haircuts and backpacks stuffed with school supplies. Last year, 96 backpacks were filled and handed out; this year, the anticipated need is closer to 120.

On Thursday, Aug. 6, from 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. volunteers will be filling backpacks in the back lot (off of Wooster Street) of the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center located at 1 School Street in Bethel. They will be accepting donations of school supplies, gift cards to local pizza establishments and child-friendly eateries, gift cards for a back-to-school haircut plus tip, small bottles and pump bottles of hand sanitizer, and face masks for children. Byrd's Books, Toy Room and Goody Package have giving trees where donors can select a specific child (gender and age noted) to buy an extra special treat for.

"Many of us were excited as a new school year approached," said event organizer and Bethel Social Services Director Megan Alworth-Khazadian. "Picking out a backpack and lunchbox and organizing our binder and pencil case was such fun. I know I took for granted that I always had everything I needed for the first day of school and throughout the school year."

Residents wishing to donate who can't make the drop-off in person can contact Alworth-Khazadian at 203-794-8537 through Sept. 1 to make other arrangements. To make a financial donation, write a check for The Community Council of Bethel, CT (1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801, Attention Megan Alworth-Khazadian). Be sure to place in the memo "Back to School 2020."