Foxborough Area YMCA Launches Backpack Drive

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Hockomock Area YMCA has launched "Operation Backpack," a drive that gets backpacks into the hands of children before school starts in the fall.

Last year, the YMCA donated 2,000 backpacks to students across Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield and North Attleboro and other towns across the community. This year, the goal is 2,500.

New supplies and backpacks are requested now through August 14. Community members who would like to sponsor the Backpack Drive are asked to contact Katie Moore at 508-643-5265 or katiem@hockymca.org. Sponsorship levels range from $1,000 — which will provide 20 backpacks to students in need — through "Presenting Sponsor" status, which is a giving level ensuring that 200 children will receive needed supplies.

Besides backpacks, the YMCA is also accepting monetary donations, pencils, colored pencils, highlighters, washable markers, rulers, crayons, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, scissors and hand sanitizer.

A donation of $50 will cover the cost of a fully stocked backpack. Text HOCKYMCA to 56651 or visit hockymca.org/give to complete a secure donation.

Anyone who wishes to provide school supplies in a contactless fashion is encouraged to visit Amazon, where a wish list is in place to offer easy purchasing and direct delivery to the Y; please visit: bit.ly/ybackpack.

Donation bins are located at all Hockomock Area YMCA facilities:

• Invensys Foxboro Branch, 67 Mechanic Street, Foxborough 508-543-2523
• Bernon Family Branch, 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin 508-528-8708
• Mansfield Arts & Education Center, 40 Balcom Street, Mansfield 508-964-2088
• North Attleboro Branch, 300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro 508-695-7001.