Bridges Outreach and Christ Child Society Provide School Supplies to Summit Children in Need

Bridges Outreach and Christ Child Society Provide School Supplies to Summit Children in Need

Summit, NJ - The Christ Child Society of Summit and Bridges Outreach, Inc. partnered for the seventh year to provide Summit students eligible for free and reduced price lunches with a new backpack and school supplies before the start of the new school year. This year a record 382 students attended. Each child received approximately $81 worth of supplies and a new backpack. School supply were based on the schools' requested lists of supplies, and varied by grade. Parents were able to direct funds that otherwise would have been used for school supplies for necessities such as food and rent. "The children are excited about selecting their new school supplies, and the parents are grateful", commented Sally Golding of The Christ Child Society and co-chair of the event.

"It's gratifying to help children in our own community, and the number of eligible children increases each year" said Jane Murphy, also of The Christ Child Society and event co-chair. A portion of the school supplies were purchased with grants from the Central Presbyterian Church of Summit, The Junior League of Summit, the Summit Area Public Foundation, and the Summit Luminary Fund. Volunteers from Merrill Lynch and The Christ Child Society provided donations and assisted at the event. Summit residents donated school supplies at the end of last year's school year. "This is always one of our happiest events of the year", said Lois Bhatt, Executive Director of Bridges.

About The Christ Child Society and Bridges Outreach, Inc.

The Christ Child Society is a non-profit association of volunteers dedicated to serving local at-risk children; for more information, visit www.christchildsummit.org. Bridges is an outreach program for the homeless delivering food, clothing, toiletries and other necessities weekly to those who are homeless or in need in New York City, Newark and Irvington. Bridges also offers case management services in Newark. For further information, visit www.bridgesoutreach.org.

Photo caption: Jane Murphy, co-chair of the Christ Child Society's school supply drive and distirbution, organizes donated notebooks.