Donation Drive for Backpacks Helps Montgomery County Schools

Montgomery County Public Schools is looking for more donations to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for students in need.

The backpacks will be distributed at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, which starts Aug. 29. According to school officials more than 54,000 students receive free and reduced-price meals, an indicator of need, and many families struggle to afford school supplies.

Montgomery County Public Schools says it has raised almost $150,000, which will provide more than 17,600 backpacks to students in 76 schools as part of the Give Back Packs campaign.

The school system is looking for more help with this year’s campaign. Montgomery County schools have received large donations from the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union ($25,000), Kits for Kidz ($25,000), CNSI ($6,500), Cliff and Deborah White Family Fund ($6,500), and Community Foundation for the National Capital Region ($6,500).

The school system says a $10 donation will provide for one backpack filled with school supplies, $300 would provide backpacks for a class, $1,500 would provide backpacks for a grade, $6,500 would provide backpacks for a school and $25,000 would provide backpacks for a school cluster. Donations of all sizes are welcome.

For more information and to donate, visit MCPS Give Back Packs webpage or call 301.279.3100.

»From Montgomery Community Media