ASHLAND —
With school set to begin soon, organizers of the annual Ashland Alliance Young Professionals Backpack Program are scrambling for support to make sure each of the more than 860 children on their list receive things they need to go back to class.
“It’s a daunting list sometimes,” said organizer Mary Kay McGinnis-Ruark, explaining today’s students need an extensive list of supplies, in addition to a few new clothes, for school. Backpack checklists include things such as watercolors, red ink pens, different types of markers and small white boards as well as loose-leaf paper, binders and notebooks, she said.
“How the program works is we obtain the names from the youth service centers from all elementary schools in both counties (Boyd and Greenup),” McGinnis-Ruark said. “The first name only is on an index card that also has the child’s clothing size, shoe size and necessary school supplies. We ask individuals to purchase a new backpack, at least one new outfit and shoes if they can afford it and the list of school supplies.”
From a list of 864 names submitted by the youth service centers, volunteers have packed backpacks for all but 150 local children.
“People can help any way they can. If people want to go together and take a name, we can do that,” McGinnis-Ruark said, explaining individuals and church groups are encouraged to help with the final push for supplies and clothing. She said she would be happy to speak to civic club meetings about the backpack program, which is in its ninth year.
While volunteers are simply trying to provide the fundamentals, McGinnis-Ruark said many who support the program are compelled to give more.
“We don’t limit people on this,” she said. “It’s unreal the stuff you see go into some of them. We have one lady who always picks three kids and buys each of them an L.L. Bean backpack with their initials on it.”
While a pair of new shoes in a backpack is certainly appreciated, McGinnis-Ruark said supporters can make considerably smaller contributions. One church group bought 80 packs of crayons.
“If people would like to donate money, they will be able to get a tax deduction — it takes around $50 to fill a backpack. They can call me at (606) 922-8283,” McGinnis-Ruark said. “If they would like to sponsor a child, they can call the alliance at (606) 324-5111 for the first name, school, clothing and shoe size and school supplies of a child.”
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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Backpack program seeking more participants
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