Since 2015, the Rotary Club of New
Orleans has been dedicated to filling backpacks with school supplies for
low-income elementary school children attending public schools in New Orleans. Supported
by a small district grant provided by Rotary District 6840, this program
provides 175 to 200 children with backpacks filled with school supplies before
the start of the school year. For families living in poverty, the cost of
school supplies each year is daunting, and prices are not getting lower. If
earning a minimum wage, to purchase the total amount of school supplies
required equals two days of labor.
Rotarian's work closely with
community centers and shelters in the 2nd and 3rd
district neighborhoods to ensure that distribution is successful, and children
who need these supplies most receive them in time for the school year. The schools
in the neighborhoods report about 90% of children qualifying for free or
reduced lunch, indicating the poverty level. Over half are single parents who
work low paying jobs.
Backpacks are picked up by members
at club meetings, and then filled by Rotarians based on a master list with
supplies that are common to most schools, such as pens and pencils, notebooks,
and binders, and returned to the following club meeting. All backpacks being
filled must be returned by July 28. Cash donations can be made to the club and
will be used for purchasing backpacks and supplies. Donations will be accepted
through August 4.
Donations can be made by credit
card online at norfinola.org
under "Backpack Project." Any companies interested in getting involved can
contact Penny Menge at pennymenge@gmail.com. To fill each backpack will cost
approximately $35 to $45. The item inventory is listed below:
One 1 inch - 3 Ring
Binder
Two packs Wide-Rule
Loose Leaf Paper
Three Notebooks or
Composition Notebooks
One Pencil Pouch
One Storage Box
One 24 count pack #2 Pencils
One 12 count pack
Colored Pencils
One 24 count pack
Crayola Crayons
One 8 count pack
Washable Markers
One 4 count pack ink
pens
Four Paper Pocket
Folders
One 3 count pack Glue
Sticks
One bottle School Glue
One Pencil Sharpener
One 3 count pack Erasers
One pack Pencil Top
Erasers
One pair Fiskar Safety
Scissors
One travel bottle Hand Sanitizer
One 3 count pack Pocket Tissues
One pack Baby Wipes (Not
Clorox wipes)
One Ruler
