Whiz Kid: Erin Morton Starts a Backpack Drive

Erin Morton is a giver and loves to help others. Morton is spearheading a backpack drive to collect for those in inner city Chicago through her St. Mary Church Youth Group led by Annie Thommen.

She said: "I got the idea when I saw pictures of children on their way to school carrying their books in plastic grocery bags. Elementary school children her throw away their backpacks at the end of each school year and buy a brand new one. I want to collect those bags that would otherwise be wasted and give them to children who truly need and would appreciate them."

"I will be handing some of them out on a mission trip to Chicago at the end of this month," Morton continued. "The others I will be distributing on Midnight Runs, which are trips St. Mary Church takes into New York City to give food and clothing to the homeless. One thing they always ask for are backpacks and we never had any in the past but now we will."

Those wishing to participate in the drive can drop off gently used backpacks at the St. Mary Church Parish Hall.