Students Start School Year With The Supplies They Need Thanks To Kiwanis Backpack Program
Some members of the Supplies 4 Success team: Denise Crawford, Desi Bartel, Carol Robertson, Laura Hillbusch, Lora Fisher, Nicole Thomas, Sydney Rohrberg, Jabe Rounds, Keaton Mayhew, Lydia Fuoss, Liam Hays and Ava Scott. Not pictured: Barb Mass and Michelle Wright.
Glenwood Community High School Key Club members help fill bags with school supplies.
Thanks to the efforts of the Glenwood Kiwanis Club, Glenwood Community High School Key Club and First National Bank (FNBO), more than 50 children in the Glenwood Community School District started the school year with a new backpack filled with the supplies they need to complete their classroom assignments.
“This year, Kiwanis spent approximately $2,000 providing 56 students with school supplies,” said Kiwanis spokesperson Michelle Wright. “Kiwanis provides the supplies that are specifically requested for each grade based on the lists the school district provides.”
School supplies ranged from pens and pencils to notepads and glue.
The Supplies 4 Success program is open to Pre-K through 5th grade students in both the Glenwood and East Mills school districts, but this year all of the applicants were from Glenwood. The backpacks were distributed Aug. 16 at Harvey T. Rimel American Legion Post 141.
Since the program’s inception, seven years ago, nearly 500 students have benefited from the program, Wright said.
“The mission of Kiwanis is to support children,” she said. “Supplies 4 Success fits with the Kiwanis mission and supports the Kiwanis International Kids Need Kiwanis program.”
Each backpack, filled with grade-appropriate supplies specifically requested by the school district, costs between $35-$40.
Kiwanis received assistance for the program this year from several local partners, including FNBO, the Key Club (a high school club sponsored by Kiwanis), Mills County Storehouse, Glenwood United Methodist Church, First Congressional UCC Church and the American Legion.
Kiwanis holds several fundraisers throughout the year to help fund the program, including a crawfish boil, golf tournament and Christmas greenery sale.
Wright said children and families who have received backpacks and school supplies over the years are appreciative of the program.
“The rewards we receive from this program come in the form of gratitude and thank you for the supplies from the parents and the excited faces of the students when they are allowed to individually pick out a backpack from the selection provided,” Wright said.
The Glenwood Kiwanis Club meets on Wednesday mornings at The Lighthouse. Additional informational about the organization is available on the “Kiwanis Club Of Glenwood” Facebook page.