Our annual back-to-school supply drive takes place August 3-14. Learn more about why this initiative is so important to us!
Written by Josephine Redfern and Christina Fagan
The back to school season is approaching quickly, however with so much uncertainty going on in our world today given COVID-19, even more families are worried about just meeting basic needs, rather than worrying about budgeting for school. Or, families have to focus on meeting technological needs with the threat of classrooms remaining virtual.
So why is a backpack still important? It’s the idea of giving so many kids the confidence to return to school (virtually or in person) with the tools they need to succeed and giving them a shot to start off the school year right like their fellow classmates.
What are we doing about it?
UHM and the UHM Foundation has recognized this need for the past few years with the launch of an annual summer back to school supply drive, called the Partner Backpack Project. This year, over 30 of our branch partners are participating by collecting donations for local nonprofits or school systems in their area.
Operation Backpack is just one example of these programs and is held by Volunteers of America each year in multiple locations across the United States. In fact, VOA is our partner for this drive in 13 of our 30 participating branch locations and we are proud to be the presenting sponsor for Operation Backpack in Ohio and Indiana. The idea is very simple: to buy a backpack and fill it with the supplies a K-12 student would need. This year we are also asking for hand sanitizer and facemasks alongside traditional school supplies, in order to help keep our students and schools safe.
Why participate?
By participating in the Partner Backpack Project and donating to a Union Home Mortgage branch (or any school supply drive in your area) you will be having a tremendous impact on students. Just check out the video above from our partners at Volunteers of America. This video can really show you why this project matters so much to disadvantaged students in our country.
The impact you can make
Last year Union Home Mortgage collected over 1,000 backpacks filled with all the supplies that students need. We had over 20 of our branches participate and this year we have even more! This year, because of the success of our virtual 5k we will also be matching donations of supplies and bookbags (up to 75 filled backpacks) donated to our corporate location. We are hoping that in North East Ohio we will have the impact of providing over 150 filled backpacks to students who are in need. With your help, we can reach this goal!
How to get involved!
If you are interested in participating all you need to do is purchase a backpack and fill it up with school supplies that k-12 students may need! These include scissors, crayons, hand sanitizer, rulers, notebooks, and pencil sharpeners. Shop for school supplies and drop off your donations at your local Volunteers of America affiliate. Want to stay contactless with COVID-19? Many nonprofits are also offering Amazon wish lists or the ability to ship donations directly to their location. Want to donate directly to our NEO drive? Make a donation to the UHM Foundation here or shop our ROONGA site and contribute.
“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai
