Schools

Tissue Company Delivers Stuffed Backpacks To Lockhart Elementary

Scotties Facial Tissues donated backpacks, school supplies and tissues to students at Lockhart Elementary in Orlando.

ORLANDO, FL -- To celebrate the start of a new school year, Scotties Facial Tissues donated backpacks, school supplies and tissues to students at Lockhart Elementary at 7500 Edgewater Drive in Orlando on Thursday, Aug. 16.

The donation, coordinated in partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation, also includes a mural designed and painted by local artists.

The backpacks were distributed during performances by the motivational dance group, Rapping About Prevention, for the students. The dance group delivers high-energy performances on a variety of topics including anti-bullying, nutrition and fitness.

Find out what's happening in Orlandofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“Preparing kids for school gives them the confidence they need to succeed both as students and as people,” said Pamela Ricci, Scotties Facial Tissue brand manager. “We believe all kids deserve the same access to the tools they need to do well in school, which is why we’re pleased to be partnering with a great organization like the Kids In Need Foundation for the second year in a row.”

The Kids In Need Foundation provides school supplies to students who need them most across the United States. In 2017 alone, the Kids In Need Foundation helped 200,000 teachers and 6.2 million students in challenged communities nationwide.

Find out what's happening in Orlandofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"We are thrilled to partner with Scotties Facial Tissue again this year to help more students start the school year with the tools they need to thrive," said Renay Dossman, executive director of the Kids In Need Foundation. "Providing kids with the supplies they need will enable them to be more engaged in the classroom."

“With the help of Scotties Facial Tissue and the Kids In Need Foundation, our students will be ready to launch into the new year with the proper tools to experience success,” said Ella Patriarch, principal at Lockhart Elementary. “We’re very grateful for this important partnership which will make that possible.”

Orlando-based children’s book author and illustrator Ethan Long donated the design for the school’s mural, which was painted over the summer by local artist Joe Starkweather of Work of Stark Design.

“It was simply an honor to be asked to design a special wall for the Lockhart Media Center,” said Long. “I can’t resist saying yes to anything having to do with reading and how it inspires kids.”

Images via Scotties Facial Tissue

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.