I had the privilege of hearing a profound statement by a speaker at a recent volunteering event. These words have stayed with me long after the event was done:
“Even small contributions, such as school supplies, can motivate children to continue their education, which in turn contributes to poverty reduction.”
Back to School is different for under-resourced children
Most of us with children treat “Back to School” activities at the beginning of the school year, like purchasing backpacks and school supplies, as another “to do” on our list. However hearing this statement made me realize that this may not be the case for many families. Those who have difficulty to make ends meet may struggle to provide the required supplies for their children. For children in those families, starting their school year just like their classmates, armed with new supplies and backpacks, can make a huge difference in their self-esteem, motivation and drive to do well in school.
Charities2Love’s School Supply & Backpack Volunteer Event
I would like to express my gratitude to Charities2love for organizing such a remarkable Backpack and School Supply Volunteer Event. It provided us an opportunity to engage in meaningful activities. These included coloring inspirational bookmarks, creating motivational cards, and packing school supplies in backpacks and bags. Each bag was thoughtfully prepared with a handwritten note, a personalized colored bookmark, 40 essential school supplies, and an abundance of love and well wishes for the children to have a successful school year.
We also learned that some school districts, like Dallas ISD, provide a clear backpack for each of their students. Therefore, for those students we prepared school supplies in brown bags which were decorated with encouraging messages and drawings.
With the assistance of approximately 75 dedicated volunteers ranging in age from 5 to 85, we managed to pack an impressive 102 backpacks and bags in just an hour! This accomplishment would not have been possible without the collective effort and enthusiasm of everyone involved. This includes the behind the scenes team, which I was a part of at this event.
Kid’s Matter brings awareness to underprivileged kids
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Kid’s Matter for their invaluable support and for raising awareness about the significance of supporting underprivileged children in our communities. Listening to their leadership team was very impactful in making me realize what a difference this volunteer event would make for so many families.
Invaluable support from other nonprofits and groups
I would like to express my gratitude to The Food Lounge, a local nonprofit, for their generous volunteers and donations towards this initiative. In addition, thank you to all of those that attended, brought supplies that day or ahead of time, and helped out during the event to make it a success. Charities2Love is truly grateful for the contributions of these remarkable and impactful nonprofits and volunteers.
Backpacks and Bags distributed throughout the DFW area
The backpacks and bags created at this event will be distributed to organizations that support underprivileged children throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. These organizations include Genesis Women’s Shelter, Heart House, and Grapevine Community Outreach. Follow our Facebook and Instagram social media channels to see the bags get to their final destination!
Volunteers are our backbone
As Mother Teresa famously said, “It is not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.”
Everyone present at the volunteer event put in tremendous love, creativity, passion, and hard work into each aspect. Their thoughtfulness shows in each beautiful card, bookmark, and bag created. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of them for making a difference in our community.