Back-to-school drive earns an A+
Thanks to your gifts, The Salvation Army’s 2022 back-to-school drive has earned an A+.
The Salvation Army today finished distributing new backpacks, notebooks, crayons, rulers, and other school supplies to more than 3,400 children in the Twin Cities. Staff and volunteers spent several weeks handing out these items at 12 local Salvation Army operation centers.
The donations were a godsend for people like Gwen, a mother of four young children. Today she stopped by The Salvation Army in North Minneapolis to pick up new school supplies for her kids, ages 6 to 12, before their first day of school on Tuesday.
“These days, with inflation, school supplies are even more expensive,” said Gwen, who has lived in Minneapolis for more than 10 years. “I thank God for The Salvation Army. They’re always here to help me whenever I don’t have much.”
Elsewhere in the Twin Cities, some of our operation centers turned their school supply distributions into family events with food, games, and community resources. That includes the Eastside Salvation Army in St. Paul (pictured), where hundreds of people attended the first-ever “Youth Appreciation Day” event on Aug. 23. Local vendors and volunteers united to provide free lunches, clothing, haircuts, and games, along with resources such as employment opportunities and budgeting education (see photos).
About 600 backpacks were distributed at this event in less than 90 minutes.
“We are grateful to our donors, volunteers and community partners for coming together to organize this incredible event to benefit local families,” said Captain Lisa Spicer (pictured), Eastside Salvation Army administrator.
This year's supply drive enjoyed corporate support from Comcast, which provided collection bins at all of its Xfinity Stores in the Twin Cities. In two weeks, Comcast customers gave a whopping 617 pounds of donated school supplies.
The Salvation Army thanks all of our donors and partners for helping to make this year’s back-to-school drive a success.
“With inflation at a 40-year high, many local families do not have enough money to pay for food, gas and housing – let alone school supplies,” said Lt. Col. Dan Jennings, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “Providing school supplies to these families will reduce their stress and allow their children to start the new school year focused and prepared.”
Miss your chance to support this drive? You can still make a difference by donating now to support children throughout the coming school year.