Loaded backpacks for Huntington students

A group from the Old First Presbyterian Church will be meeting tonight to fill more than 60 backpacks with school supplies for needy children.

“Backpacks for Success” started last year, producing 36 loaded packs for students. The group will assemble in room 114 of Huntington Town Hall at 7 p.m. under the direction of Lori Kepler.

“I am a retired teacher,” Kepler said, “and I know how important it is to all students to start the school year off by being prepared.”

Under the program, new backpacks are purchased – mostly with money donated by someone from the church, although a few are purchased by other supporters. Families then buy items from the suggested school supply lists for grades Kindergarten through 12, stuff the backpacks and label them with the student’s first name.
The student list is provided by town’s Office of Human Services.
This year the program is also providing two college students with notebooks and bookstore cards from their colleges to help purchase text books.