Local students receive backpacks from Interfaith’s donors

QUINCY, Mass. (Sept. 8, 2021) – South Shore parents struggling to make ends meet during this challenging time have one less thing to worry about as their children return to the classroom. Hundreds of families received new backpacks and school supplies from Interfaith Social Services during the month of August, lightening the burden of back-to-school expenses for families in need. Generous donors provided backpacks and school supplies for more than 600 children whose families utilize Interfaith’s programs.

Interfaith Social Services operates one of Greater Boston’s largest emergency food pantries, a mental health counseling center, Thrift Shop and homelessness prevention program. Since 1947, Interfaith Social Services has been a safety net for thousands of children and families from the South Shore who are struggling to make ends meet.

Interfaith’s food pantry conducts several seasonal initiatives throughout the year aimed at bringing joy to children who may be growing up in difficult situations. One of those initiatives is Interfaith’s annual Backpack Drive, intended to make sure students start out the school year outfitted with the supplies they need to succeed.

“After such a hectic year, we hope to provide children with some stability by making sure they have the supplies they need to return to the classroom,” said Interfaith’s Family and Children Program Manager Emily Ryan. “Back-to-school costs don’t fit into the budgets of many of our client families. We’re so grateful to all the donors that help us alleviate some of these expenses.”

The Backpack Drive is made possible through the support of many individuals, businesses and organizations who donate backpacks, supplies and monetary contributions during the summer. Several local businesses and organizations supported the program this year with donations of backpacks and supplies, including Bank of Canton, Bay State Milling, Black Rock Country Club Women’s Golf, the Braintree Council Knights of Columbus, Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills, Families4Families, First Church of Squantum, FoxRock Properties, HarborOne Bank, Hingham Congregational Church, and Paige Landscape Company.

Volunteer groups, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, IntelyCare, and SIGNET Electronics Systems, helped fill the backpacks with notebooks, pens, pencils, markers and other supplies.

To learn more about Interfaith’s seasonal programs, please contact Interfaith’s Family and Children Program Manager Emily Ryan at [email protected] or 617-773-6203 ext.26.