3,500 Needy Reston, Herndon Kids to Get New Backpacks ... With Your Help

It's never too early to start thinking of going back to school, and with that in mind, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is organizing a backpack drive for the next week for Reston and Herndon children.

The Chamber's Community Engagement Committee is working with Cornerstones and its partner Kids R First to equip nearly 3,500 K-12 children in the region with brand new backpacks for the next academic year, and the drive will run until July 28, according to a statement.

There are a few simple steps you can take to get involved, the statement adds:

1) Purchase NEW backpacks (no wheels or corporate logos, please):
High School Size 20 H × 14 W × 7 D (the age where our need is greatest)
Junior High Size 18 H × 13 W × 6 D
Elementary Age Size 16 H × 12 W × 5

2) Drop-off your NEW backpack at the Reston Chamber office

3) You can purchase backpacks online through Walmart or Amazon (with free shipping to Cornerstones)

4) Flyer to start a campaign at your business

5) If you can not donate a backpack, purchase a $25 Payless gift card and drop it off at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce office. (Ask for LJ Wilson, Communications Manager)

But that's not all -- once all the school supplies are gathered and organized, it will be time to distribute and volunteers will be needed. The Community Engagement Committee will meet at Rachel Carson Middle School from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 2 to organize supplies for each school. If you can't make it at that time, the afternoon shift if 1-3 p.m.

You can sign up here.

Sign up for news alerts and the daily Patch newsletter!