Successful Backpack Drive For Essex County Kids In Foster Care – Montclair, NJ Patch
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch community member. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.
A total of 126 backpacks were distributed directly to children in foster care in Essex County through a drive organized by The Junior League of Montclair – Newark (JLMN) and their new partner Montclair Community Operation Backpack (“MCOB”).
Children arrived with excitement to the Boys and Girls Club of Newark on Saturday, August 17th. They were greeted with brand new backpacks, school supplies, and a Dominos Pizza party donation of pizzas and dessert.
“We believe that recieving the new backpacks and school supplies will give them a great start,” said JLMN President, Stephanie Hutton.
The backpacks distribution directly to children in foster care in Essex County was made possible through the JLMN community partner, Embrella.
To participate in the drive, donors purchased backpacks and filled them with items from a supply list for that grade or shopped via an Amazon wishlist. Age groupings were Pre K & K, 1st-4th, 5th-8th, and 9th-12th.
The Rotary Club of West Caldwell donated 23 filled backpacks for the high school age groups.
Over the past 6 years, MCOB has collected hundreds of filled backpacks for kids living in homeless and domestic violence shelters in NYC. MCOB joined forces with the Junior League of Montclair to expand the drive to grow the program to include more New Jersey children.
The JLMN is a nonprofit organization of trained volunteers. Through hands-on projects and partnerships, our members build a better community by promoting education, health and wellness, literacy and the arts for children at risk. To learn more, visit: www.jlmn.org
For additional information, contact:Catherine Clifford, Public Relations & Marketing Pr@jlmn.org
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