At the height of summer, Sandra Walker is already planning for Operation Backpack. Now in its 11th year, Operation Backpack provides school supplies for needy public school children in McDowell County.
As in past years, the program will have its big push in August, to coincide with the tax-free weekend, but this year, said Walker, more school kids are in greater need than she has seen in the past. More supplies will be needed, and it is not too early to begin shopping.
"One thing that moves me very deeply," she said, "is the idea of a child, frightened and unsure on their first day of school, having to ask for supplies." She spoke in some detail about how vulnerable children are at the beginning of school, how desperately they want to fit in.
The traditional supplies needed at school have not changed much, despite the advances of technology. Kids still need a book bag, pencils, pens, crayons, binders, notebooks, filler paper, pencil sharpeners and a ruler.
With unemployment hovering around 15 percent in McDowell, the highest in decades, more families will be unable to meet those needs. Children will go to school without those items they need to learn and to fit in with their peers.
Often, teachers must fill that void, supplying the items themselves. But this year, class sizes are bigger, teachers have taken a pay cut and they have had their supply budgets slashed or eliminated.
That's where Walker said the people of McDowell have come through year after year.
"It has always done well," she said, "and Operation Backpack is a year-round thing, but this is the big push. This is the one time a year when just about every kid will be needing supplies."
She urged those who can to shop smart and try to get the best bang for their bucks. Don't buy a $40 backpack, she said.
"If you shop around, you can get four or even five backpacks for that same $40," said Walker. "I know that Roses has some really nice packs for little girls at around $7.50." She said one lady last year went to overstock.com and bought a large number of backpacks at a massive discount.
The program works in full cooperation with the county public school system. In fact, kids from the AEC spend days in the summer packing the assorted donations into complete kits ready to be distributed to worthy kids.
The state's back to school tax-free weekend will take place Friday to Sunday, Aug. 7, 8 and 9. On that Saturday, Walker will be in the Wal-Mart parking lot, collecting donations. In past years, the schools have sent a big school bus to receive the donations.
The need is such, Walker said, that even entirely filling the bus can barely provide enough.
Although that's a few weeks away, donations are already being accepted. Contact Melanie Dunham at 652-4535, extension 117 or Walker at 652-1081 to arrange to drop off donations.
Monetary donations are also gladly accepted. Make checks payable to The Endowment Fund of the Public Schools and mark it "Operation Backpack" in the memo line. Mail checks to Operation Backpack, c/o Student Services, McDowell County Schools, 334 S. Main St., Marion, NC 28752.
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