In the summers of 2009 and 2010, St. Paul’s has collected and assembled  backpacks full of school supplies to benefit students in need at Portage Path Elementary School, right here in our own neighborhood. The funds for providing school supplies and uniforms are often out of reach for poor families, even as they realize the importance of education in helping their children out of poverty. 

In 2010, we surpassed our goal by providing 115 fully stocked backpacks, along with several boxes of extra supplies for use by teachers and students over the course of the year.  In addition to a wonderful response in terms of donations, we were delighted to see so many people of all ages turn up to fill the backpacks with supplies.  We finished the work in record time and had lots of fun doing so!

Next summer, we will once again be collecting new or gently used backpacks, 24-count crayons, glue sticks, glue bottles, #2 pencils, erasers, markers, plastic school boxes, colored pencils, children's scissors, rulers, blue or black ballpoint pens, pocket folders, and notebook paper.  Monetary donations will also be welcome to purchase any supplies we may be lacking to even things up for each backpack.  Watch this page, the newsletter, and the Missions kiosk for the dates for the 2011 Backpack Project and thanks again for a great response in 2010!   

For further information, contact Maura O'Shea.