Joni Smith, Conyers GSF Foundation Chair, wears a matching smile with a first grader at the Conyers Backpack to School event.
Facilities around the country hosted “Backpack to School” events in August and donated an astounding 1,485 backpacks to school-aged children. Volunteers from Arkansas City, Chicago, Conyers, St. Louis, QCD Los Angeles and QCD Seattle stuffed and delivered backpacks to worthwhile elementary schools, in addition to a community center and local women’s shelter.
GSF Foundation’s successful, nine-year program partnered with the United Stationers Charitable Foundation to provide first grade students with backpacks filled with essential school supplies. For many children and families, backpacks and school supplies are simply not affordable purchases. The Foundation believes that every child deserves to begin their academic career with the tools necessary to become an engaged and successful student.
“Our team had the great pleasure to see the happy faces when the kids entered the auditorium, but not only were the kids happy, the Foundation family was all smiles as well,” said Jason DePina of QCD Los Angeles. “Each associate was able to spend quality, one-on-one time helping a student pick out their backpack of choice. It is such a heartwarming feeling to know that we have helped prepare so many students for a successful 2015/2016 school year. Next stop, ‘Shoes that fit,’ we can’t wait!”
Thank you to all the volunteers who delivered a great start to the students’ school year, in addition to your support all year long during the other GSFF core programs: bike building; Best Foot Forward; Pedal to Perfection and Coats for Kids.