Backpacks for Berrien is planning its next Stuff a Bus event for Friday, July 25 at the Courthouse Square in Berrien Springs.
Backpacks for Berrien’s Amanda Wilcox tells us the group was started about ten years ago when some Berrien Springs teachers noticed they had a lot of students who had trouble acquiring the supplies they needed for the school year. So, the teachers started collecting items and raising funds to provide meals to students on the weekends. Wilcox says they’ve made a difference.
“Over the last 10 years, Backpacks for Berrien has served over 300 kids annually with backpacks and school supplies, and the number of weekend meals we give out vary from year to year and even month to month, but we’ve given away up to 90 meals per weekend,” Wilcox said.
That’s 90 students per weekend served during the school year.
Wilcox says the Stuff a Bus event on the 25th will run from 4 to 7 p.m. and everyone’s welcome to come out and have some fun.
“Our donations have been down over the last couple of years, so this is trying to revive and revitalize and inspire the community to come out and see us. We’ll be accepting school supply donations as well as money donations.”
They’ll have vendors on hand, Animal Aid will be there with adoptable pets, and Love Creek Nature Center will have reptiles and amphibians, something the kids ought to love. Plus, the kids can get their faces painted.
Everyone’s invited to attend and help students in Berrien Springs be prepared for another successful school year.
