School Supply Giveaway Set for Aug. 7

7/30/2021

The Montelores Early Childhood Council expects to give away more than 500 Osprey backpacks filled with school supplies this year, so children in need are ready to learn on the first day of school. Sponsored by Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware and Whole Health Family Medicine Clinic

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At least 500 students in Montezuma County will arrive at school for the first day of classes toting new backpacks filled with school supplies. You're watching the Local News Network, brought to you by Choice Building Supply ACE Hardware, and Whole Health Family Medicine. The Montelores Early Childhood Council will provide free backpacks filled with pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, a pair of socks, and other school supplies to Montezuma County students in kindergarten through 12th grade on Saturday, August 7th. Program coordinator Katrina Lindus and helpers have been filling 500 backpacks for the past couple of weeks to prepare for the giveaway.

Yeah, I think it's really important, you know, children, that excitement of those new school supplies and feeling really proud to walk in, and even if mom and dad maybe can't afford everything, 'cause I know I've been there as a child and I've been there as a parent where it's really challenging. So having that, like, "I got Crayola crayons or I got, you know, Osprey packs" is going to be really cool to watch their little minds be happy so that they're able to learn.

Osprey Backpacks provides the totes for free. Community members, the Salvation Army, and Operation Homefront donate the supplies. Lindus said about 250 families registered by the deadline on August 24th to pick up a backpack. The remaining 250 packs will be given away until they're gone, starting at 2:00 PM at the Johnson Building at 925 South Broadway in Cortez. The first day of school in the Montezuma-Cortez School District is Monday, August 16th. For more information, visit Monteloresecc.org.

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