Chippewa County's Project Backpack is here again!
The event will be held at Van Citters Athletic Field (aka Sault Athletic Field), located on Seymour St in Sault Ste. Marie, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
United Way of the EUP, The Salvation Army, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are coming together to distribute several hundred pre-filled backpacks to young learners across Chippewa County.
Project Backpack is open to all and was designed specifically to aid in the transition from summer to back-to-school for families that could use a little less stress on their plate!
Raulaniesa Aranda, Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, is excited once again about this event.
"The distribution event is a carnival atmosphere designed to get children excited about learning and the new school year. Some of our local teachers volunteer with us, as do many other groups in the community. Average packs given out in the last couple of years have been about 300 on field and another 100 afterward because we deliver packs to Chippewa County school districts for families who transfer in after school starts or who are in need throughout the year," Aranda said.
"This year, weather permitting, we'll have two bounce houses, games, Salvation Army will provide a free lunch to all in attendance; and we'll have a variety of our community partners on the field with us with information for families," added Aranda.
Families are welcome however children don't have to be present to pick up a backpack.
Registration takes place at the gate and Aranda says it's free to anyone who needs a backpack. There is no income guideline for this event.
"We understand there are many ALICE households in our area (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) who are working just to barely make ends meet and struggle this time of year when they have to find money in their budget to purchase back-to-school supplies, clothing, shoes, etc. We want to help ease some of that burden and make sure our area children don't feel the stress that a tight budget can bring to the family dynamic," Aranda said.
This event started out as a way for DHHS to help a small handful of foster care children and now, over a decade later, they are helping hundreds of families.
This is truly a community event, Aranda said.
In addition to the planning organizations, this event couldn't be as successful as it is without the help of donors and sponsors:
- Central Savings Bank
- Chippewa County Credit Union
- US Coast Guard Sector Sault
- MI Dept of Natural Resources - Sault
- MyMichigan Medical Center Sault
- Soo Co-Op Credit Union
- Dr. and Mrs. Shunk
- EUP Board of Realtors
- Kinross Correctional Facility(MDOC)
- Chippewa Correctional Facility (MDOC)
- DollarTree Stores' Operation Homefront
- Parker's Ace Hardware
- Smith & Company Realty, Inc.
- Sault Tribe Administration
- Penny's Kitchen
- Bayliss Public Library
- National Office Products & Printing, Inc.
- Chippewa County Communities That Care
- Chippewa County Health Department
- Cloverland Cooperative
