… every year, but it sure makes kids feel good when they do.
I confess, every year we purchase a new backpack for our student, rather she needs one or not. Every year her “colors” change. I support that whole heartily. We also purchase at least a couple of new mechanical pencils; but we recycle paper, notebooks, crayons, markers and colored pencils.
The topic of student backpack and supply needs have come up recently in comments. We all know the annual backpack give away season is upon us. And yes, we all realize that many of the same people attend more than one event and get more than one backpack.
At Quest Charter Academy, they purchase a backpack and supplies for all of their students. Those who get free lunch and/or books get the backpack and supplies for free; others are required to pay the school about $17. Is it a stretch to then think that more than likely, some of the Quest students also receive free backpack and supplies from other places? Not really.
In my opinion, it would be very difficult to regulate something like a backpack give away, when all across the City of Peoria church groups and civic organizations are looking to help their patrons and or clients who may need help getting students ready for back to school.
These backpack giveaways are also happening in Pekin, Canton, and Morton, as well as other places; and there are many opportunities for all types of people to “be greedy” and chase down “free stuff” that they allegedly “feel entitled” to have.
There are some good suggestions coming through in comments about how to stop people from getting more than one backpack. I like the one where the backpacks are donated to the School District and they are given out by the teachers in the classroom. That really is one way to make sure that each child receives one backpack.
However, keep in mind that the main backpack event at the Dream Center is about more than backpacks and supplies. It is also an opportunity for students to receive the necessary physicals so that they are truly ready for school. Any dent that can be made in the number of students who show up to school without the necessary physicals is worth giving folks a couple of extra backpacks.
Sure, those knuckleheads running around getting as many backpacks as they can are annoying. However, let’s not let the fact that some folks may be “greedy” make us lose sight of the good work the Dream Center is doing for the whole student, which in my opinion is what really matters.