The Salvation Army and KETV Collect Backpacks and School Supplies for Children in Need
New school supplies can be costly, especially for families with limited financial means – which is why The Salvation Army 7 Can Help Kids Back to School Backpack Program makes a big difference in helping kids start the school year off right.
The Salvation Army is collecting new school supplies through Tuesday, August 10. Backpacks, spiral notebooks, erasers, glue, crayons, colored pencils, two-pocket folders, pens, pencils, hand sanitizer, reusable water bottles, tissues and rulers can be dropped off in the blue collection barrels at select Methodist Health System, Metro Credit Union and Salvation Army locations (click here for a complete list of collection sites).
Donations can also be dropped off all day on Wednesday, August 4, at a live KETV broadcast and collection event at Methodist Women’s Hospital (192nd & Dodge).
Those who prefer to make a monetary donation that will be used to purchase new school supplies for local children in need can do so here.
Backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to school-age children on Friday, August 13, and Saturday, August 14, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (or until supplies are exhausted) at The Salvation Army North Corps and Kroc Center and on August 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until supplies are exhausted) at Westroads Mall (in the parking lot north of JC Penny). Children need to be present with families to receive a backpack and school supplies.
The North Corps backpack distribution event is returning to a more traditional walk-up format this year, while the Kroc Center and Westroads events will employ drive thru-style distributions.
This year marks the 23rd anniversary of The Salvation Army 7 Can Help Kids Back to School Backpack Program. Since the initiative was launched in 1998, more than 211,000 local children have been helped, including more than 11,000 children in 2020.
The 2021 presenting sponsor of The Salvation Army 7 Can Help Kids Back to School Backpack Program is Methodist Health System. The drop-off location sponsor is Metro Credit Union. Additional support is provided by Firefighters on the Move, Sweet 98.5, Pay-LESS Office Products and Barnhart Press.