School supply drive for students in need

PATERSON — United Way of Passaic County is reaching out to help children in the community with its annual Backpacks for Kids program. The program will help a substantial number of local youth to start the school year with the necessary supplies. The United Way Volunteer Center is seeking businesses, community organizations, families, and volunteers to donate school supplies, host a school supply drive, or volunteer time to fill backpacks to help children in need prepare for a successful school year. “The first step toward ensuring children’s academic success is preparing them to learn,” says Yvonne Zuidema, president of United Way of Passaic County. “Last year the Backpacks for Kids program distributed brand new backpacks loaded with school supplies to more than 800 registered students in Passaic County. This program aims to ensure that students come to school prepared to learn.” Office Depot, Old Navy Stores, and BAE Corporation in Wayne are among the corporations who have signed on to contribute backpacks and supplies. In addition to donating supplies, businesses and community organizations can host a school supply drive. A “how-to” toolkit for hosting a school supply drive is readily available on United Way of Passaic County’s website www.unitedwaypassaic.org or by calling United Way’s Volunteer Center at 973-279-8900, extension 14. Items needed include: Backpacks, pencils, notebooks, folders, loose-leaf paper, rulers, binders, crayons, glue, pencil boxes, erasers, highlighter markers, and other customary school supplies. Donations will be accepted through September 1.