Backpacks for Kids, a local nonprofit organization, has been providing backpacks with school supplies to Washington County School kids in need since 2004. In their first year, they were able to fill 10 backpacks with school supplies. With the growth of the county and increasing need, the group will be delivering 1000 backpacks this year.
Steve Tippetts, president of Backpack for Kids, said, “We deliver to every school in the district.”
Hosting several fundraisers throughout the year, Backpacks for Kids was able to collaborate with Allconnect to host a drive to gather supplies. Tippetts, in his third year on the board, was very impressed and appreciative of the amazing people in the community.
“United Way, Biolife, Habitat for Humanity, Costco, Target, Wal-mart, real estate offices, community businesses, and individuals pitched in to ‘Stuff the Bus’ with much needed school supplies to fill backpacks,” Tippetts said. “This is huge and really goes a long way in helping insure kids have what they need to start school. One person even dropped by a check for $1000.”
Stacy Garvin has been involved with the project for 7 years.
“Many don’t know how many are struggling within the county,” Garvin said. “There are over 1000 students within our school district that go to school but don’t have a place to call home on a permanent basis. They go to school but don’t always know where they will be going for the night.”
Kathleen Lockridge became involved with Backpacks for Kids through her affiliation with Red Rock Rotary Club three years ago.
“We are trying to start including a hygiene kit for the kids,” she said. “There are many kids that don’t have the basics like socks, underwear, deodorant, toothpaste, and such.”
New to the request list from the schools is the need for flash drives for high school students. The flash drives are used by students to save their homework when working on school computers. The high cost per unit has left Backpacks for Kids short 250 flash drives needed for this year.
“Increasing costs and higher numbers of those in need has made it difficult for the organization to reach their funding needs,” Tippetts said. “We also got hit with unexpected last minute news that our supplier could no longer supply the items we had been purchasing at steep discounts. I’m thrilled with the huge support of everyone stepping up and helping us continue.”
“One hundred percent of donations go to supplies,” Garvin added. “No one is paid, and we work entirely by donation and volunteer efforts.”
Since gathering supplies on the “Stuff the Bus” event on July 30, volunteers have been at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church unloading, sorting, and packing backpacks. On Tuesday, Aug 4, volunteers distributed the backpacks to the 46 different schools within the county in preparation for students returning to school next week.
The next big fundraiser for Backpacks for Kids is helping with parking at the Washington County Fair, running from Aug. 12-15. A portion of the parking fees will go to the organization as they continue to gather supplies for their next delivery in December.
Tippetts, Garvin, and Lockridge all agreed, “Our immediate needs are the 250 flash drives. Beyond that, we are looking for people willing to serve on the board, and we are always in need of donations.”
To volunteer or donate, call Steve Tippetts at (435) 862-4975 or visit the Backpacks for Kids — St. George, UT Facebook page.
