With just one week left before students head back to the classroom, the final push is on to make sure every child in the London region has a backpack full of school supplies.
Donations for the annual Rock Back to School campaign are being collected by Free 98.1 in partnership with the Salvation Army, Preferred Insurance, Real Canadian Superstore, and the Thames Valley Education Foundation. The backpacks stuffed with school essentials will be distributed to over 4,000 kids in need within the Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board just in time for the new school year.
"The need has exceeded what we have had donated," says Tania Testa, Communications Manager, with the Thames Valley District School Board. "We are welcoming additional donations from our community. We are very grateful for everything that we have received, which is a lot, but we still have some student needs."
The backpacks are stuffed with items like lunch bags, pens, pencils, a pencil case, paper, binders, erasers, glue, crayons, and a ruler.
Testa says for a less fortunate child, having these supplies on the first day is a huge confidence builder.
"It is critically important. Not only to help them succeed in the classroom but also because in a room full of shiny new school supplies it's nice for all of our students to have the opportunity to have that same benefit themselves," says Testa.
Volunteers have spent the past few weeks assembling the backpacks, making sure the right supplies go to the appropriate age groups.
"It's pretty amazing, all the variety of Disney Frozen backpacks all the way to super cool Roots backpacks," says Testa. "It seems as though we have something to please every student which is fantastic. Hopefully they will all be happy when school starts and have all the supplies that they need to get them through the year."
Donations to the Rock Back to School campaign can be dropped off at the Salvation Army, Preferred Insurance, and London Real Canadian Superstores.
Those in need of a supply filled backpack for their child should contact their school principal.
