From Pencils to Possibilities – New School Supplies Support Students in Need
Nothing says back-to-school like the smell of new crayons, the sight of colorful folders and No. 2 pencils sharpened to the perfect point with a fully intact pink eraser. But not every family has the resources to give kids a new backpack full of supplies to start the school year prepared, healthy and ready to learn.
Today, the average cost of basic school supplies is $75-$225 per elementary, middle and high school student. For many families that expenditure is impossible to afford. That is where the Family Resource Centers at Valleywise Health can take some pressure off families in need.
The Valleywise Health backpack drive started 18 years ago as a grassroots employee program. Initially, the team stuffed and distributed just 100 backpacks. This year, with the help of Valleywise Health Foundation donors and sponsors, 3,000 kids will receive a new backpack filled with all the supplies they’ll need to make the school year a success.
“Many children in our community lack basic school supplies essential for thriving in school,” said Rebecca Birr, Director of the Health Sciences Library and the Family Resource Centers at Valleywise Health. “Having the right supplies is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Studies show that when students have their own school supplies, their grades and classroom behavior improve, and they become more excited about school and learning, reducing absenteeism rates.”
Thanks to generous donations from community members, organizations and businesses, each new backpack this year includes wide-ruled composition books and pocket folders, child-safe scissors, a 12″ ruler, glue sticks, a 12-pack of No. 2 pencils and erasers, a 24-count box of crayons and wired headphones, and many other supplies needed for healthy habits and classroom success.
“At Valleywise Health and the Family Resource Centers, we come from a place of ‘yes,’” added Birr. “We are here to connect people, find solutions to problems, and offer support to the most vulnerable population. The backpack drive provides answers to a lot of difficulties and creates an opportunity for kids to be successful in school, which will have a lasting impact on their lives.”
The annual backpack drive is just one of many programs provided by the Family Resource Centers at Valleywise Health. With locations in Chandler, Laveen, Maryvale, Mesa, Peoria, North Phoenix, Central Phoenix, and South Phoenix, the centers offer classes and support groups, plus workshops on important topics like nutrition and breastfeeding, safety, STEM, sensory, child development, and parenting. To help set families up for success, they provide much-needed supplies like car seats and bike helmets and support early literacy with books for building at-home libraries.
For more information about how to donate to the Valleywise Health Family Resource Centers or the annual backpack drive, visit valleywisebackpackdrive.org.
