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Operation Backpack: Empowering Youngsters Throughout Westchester

Do you remember your first day of school? You were filled with excitement and apprehension for the year ahead. You were also nervous to meet your classmates and teacher. Your new backpack was stuffed with supplies, and your coolest clothes were laid out.

Unfortunately, for many of the kids in Westchester County, the first day of school is often filled with anxiety and fear. They don’t have new backpacks or clothes and are worried about being singled out. They’re worried about being bullied for having very limited resources or being homeless.

The College of Westchester’s (CW) Sisters United club understands the need in our area, and once again, the club executed a successful backpack drive to provide kids in need in our community with backpacks and school supplies as they head into another school year. After weeks of hosting the “backpacks to school” drive and raising money through a summer luau bake sale, Sisters United and the CW community donated 19 filled backpacks along with extra school supplies to support the initiative, “The Sharing Shelf’s Backpacks to School” from Family Services of Westchester.

“We appreciate how generous everyone has been. I am proud of all of CW’s generous contributions and efforts to come together as a team. Sisters United is grateful as well. There will be some very happy students this fall,” said Dr. Schacht, moderator of the Sisters United club.

Family Services of Westchester, Inc. (FSW) is a private, not-for-profit agency serving the area of Westchester since 1954. Headquartered in Port Chester, FSW runs more than 50 social service and mental health programs that reach 30,000 children, teens, adults, and families a year.

The goal of The Sharing Shelf’s “Backpacks to School” initiative is to fill new backpacks with grade appropriate school supplies for children in Westchester County while partnering with Westchester County’s Department of Social Services. FSW launched this program in 2011 to help those in financial need in our area. According to the organization, the average family spends $122 on school supplies, a sum out of reach for low-income families and those living below the poverty level. The Sharing Shelf believes our children deserve to start the school year ready to learn, with a backpack filled with the supplies they need.

FSW launched the program in 2011 and they have distributed over 5,500 backpacks to children in over 30 schools districts. CW is proud to participate in such an amazing program through the hard work of the Sisters United club.

For more information about FSW, visit www.fsw.org

To read a special Thank You letter addressed to The College of Westchester and Sisters United from The Sharing Shelf Family Services of Westchester, click here.

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