United Way holding stuffing party for backpack program
Photo by Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, LJI
The United Way Northumberland is having a stuffing party this morning as it seeks to fill 850 backpacks for school-aged children. The backpacks will be filled with essential school supplies, from scientific calculators and math kits to crayons and markers, but also with tools for health, literacy, and nutrition.
The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, is providing oral health kits to help students care for their smiles. Younger grades will also receive books to foster early literacy. Snacks will also be inserted to help provide nutrition on the first day of school.
“The Stuffing Party isn’t just about backpacks, it’s about meeting kids’ basic needs so they can focus on learning,” said Alicia Vandine, Executive Director of United Way Northumberland. “Many families face impossible choices between school supplies and groceries. By including snacks and launching our School Nutrition Program later this month, we’re tackling hunger where it hits hardest: the classroom.”
The backpacks are expected to be distributed soon. The stuffing party is taking place at the Cobourg Lions Centre.
