Please note -- Hundreds of back packs are given to children who attend Monroe Public Schools and this drive helps to fiill them.

Collection barrels have been placed at locations around Monroe County for persons who wish to drop off school supplies to be placed in back packs which will be distributed to Monroe County children in August.  

            The Supplying Our Future Back Pack Coalition, which is spearheaded by the Salvation Army, also includes representatives of local social service organizations, schools, churches and organized labor.  Last year, the coalition provided about 1,000 back packs to children who were in need prior to school.

            The group anticipates distributing about the same number of back packs and supplies to students this August so it maintains a large number of collection locations to make it as convenient as possible for anyone who wants to donate. 

            Donations of back packs always are welcome but the donation barrels also are a major source of donations of such items as pencils, paper, rulers, crayons, and scissors.  Think of it this way – the same kinds of materials you would purchase to prepare your own child to start school.   

            Here is a list of the donation locations across Monroe County:

• Monroe County Library System (all branches)
• Monroe County Community Credit Union (three locations)
• Education Plus Credit Union (all locations)
• Francis Family YMCA and Monroe Family YMCA
• Frenchtown Senior Center
• Monroe Center for Healthy Aging
• Bedford Senior Center
• Monroe Bank & Trust (main office)
• Kroger store, Lambertville

In addition, various local churches are participating by having a donation barrel on the premises for their parish and church members.  They are:  Calvary Baptist, First Presbyterian Church, House of Prayer, Lambertville Free Methodist, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, and St. Mary’s Parish, Monroe, St. Michael Lutheran Church, Ottawa Lake.   

Back packs will be distributed at three different locations.  The first is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., August 12, at the Francis Family YMCA in Bedford Township. A day later, on Aug. 13, back packs will be handed out in Monroe at the Arthur Lesow Community Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Back packs also will be distributed to persons in the Dundee area through the Dundee Baptist Church, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., August 20.  Persons who still need to apply for a back pack should contact The Salvation Army and return the application by August 1.  

o by donating back packs, you are helping "our kids."