Every Backpack Tells a Child: "You Matter."
For many years, the Rotary Club of Port Hope - Helen and Burton Philp Trust Fund has proudly supported the Backpacks for Kids program through United Way Northumberland, helping local children and youth start the school year with confidence.
This year, with club’s contribution of $ 2000, backpacks are being packed more thoughtfully than ever. A backpack for a child starting kindergarten looks very different from one for a teenager heading into high school.
For younger students, it means crayons, school supplies, literacy tools, healthy snacks, and a new toothbrush. Everything they need to begin their learning journey with confidence.
For older students, it means something just as important: age-appropriate hygiene essentials, menstrual products, and other everyday items that help preserve dignity and self-esteem. When a young person doesn't have access to basic necessities, it affects far more than their schoolwork; it affects their confidence and sense of belonging.
Last year, an incredible 850 backpacks were distributed, yet the need continued to grow. Rising costs mean it's becoming more challenging to provide every child with a fully stocked backpack, but every young person deserves to begin the school year feeling prepared, supported, and valued.
We're proud to stand behind programs like Backpacks for Kids, because sometimes a backpack is much more than school supplies. It's a message that an entire community believes in a child's future.
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