'Build A Backpack' for a needy child at Walmart

McDowell County United Way, part of the leading dropout prevention network in North Carolina dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, announces participation in a statewide partnership with Walmart to collect school supplies for economically disadvantaged students in North Carolina.

The 2011 “Build A Backpack” back-to-school supply drive is the largest school supply drive ever conducted by Walmart in North Carolina, involving all 138 Walmart stores across the state. CISNC has identified 77 counties that will benefit from the “Build A Backpack” program. To expand its reach across the state, CISNC has partnered with other trusted nonprofits. These partner agencies are assisting CISNC in counties where there are Walmart stores but not a local CISNC affiliate. 

The campaign, which kicks off on July 17 and runs until Aug. 21, involves Walmart customers being asked at check-out to contribute $1, $5, $10 or another dollar amount toward school supplies. Bins will be available in Walmart stores as well to collect donated school supply items, which will be distributed to local Communities In Schools affiliates that will then distribute the items to low-income students. Money collected will be distributed in the form of Walmart gift cards to local Communities In Schools (CIS) affiliates, including McDowell County United Way .

“We could not be more thrilled to partner with Communities In Schools to serve our state’s students,” said Ronny Hayes, regional vice president of Walmart and board member of Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC). “It is our hope that the back-to-school supply drive piloted here in North Carolina, with the invaluable help of Communities In Schools to ensure that the neediest students be the recipients of the collected items, will serve as a model across the country.”

“With a presence in 42 counties across North Carolina, Communities In Schools touches North Carolina’s neediest children,” said Linda Harrill, president and CEO of CISNC. “In fact, 97 percent of the students that CIS serves are economically disadvantaged. We thank Walmart for its commitment to serve those most in need by launching such a massive and promising school supply campaign. A small investment today in ‘Build A Backpack’ will pay a big dividend in the lives of students who need the essential tools that support their success in school.”

Another partnership that CISNC affiliates/partners will be able to benefit from is with IBM. As an aspect of its centennial celebration, IBM is also joining in on this drive by asking its 10,000 employees and retirees in the state to volunteer. IBMers are being encouraged to assist CISNC affiliates and/or other “Build A Backpack” partners in filling backpacks with school supplies or helping to collect donations at local Walmart stores.

Signage promoting “Build A Backpack” will appear throughout all Walmart stores in North Carolina in early July.

CISNC will also work in partnership with United Way to distribute supplies in select communities. All donations collected through “Build A Backpack” in McDowell County will help to support services through our local Operation Backpack.

The 2011-2012 school year will be the 13^th year that Operation Backpack has provided assistance to students.  The project, which relies on donations, has outfitted more than 500 students each school year with backpacks, pencils, notebook paper and other school supplies.  

Originally organized in 1998, the goal of “Operation Backpack” is to outfit all underprivileged children in McDowell County Public Schools with a NEW backpack and school supplies. It is our wish that no child returns to school without the necessary supplies. Although the majority of the supplies are distributed when the children return to school after the summer break, “Operation Backpack” is a year-round event. For additional information, contact Melanie Dunham at McDowell County Schools, 334 S. Main St., Marion, NC 28752; 652-4535, ext. 106; Melanie.dunham@mcdowell.k12.nc.us., or Sandra Walker at 652-1081.