It’s the 18th year for the St. Vincent Jennings Hospital Back-to-School Backpack project and there is a need for some help from the community.
The project is a community service program run by St. Vincent Jennings designed to help economically challenged Jennings County households get ready for the upcoming school year.
It is estimated that the average backpack filled with supplies costs $65 to $80, a large expense for families that are struggling financially. The Jennings County School Corp. identifies families who qualify to receive free backpacks filled with school supplies and determines the number of backpacks needed each year.
The staff and employees of St. Vincent Jennings collect school supplies and financial donations year-round to provided the needed backpacks. In July, hospital volunteers assemble the number of bags requested by JCSC and deliver them to the schools. The schools distribute the backpacks to the previously designated students.
This year, the Chief of Nursing Christina Crank and Medical Administrator Jennifer Huntington are heading up the project.
“So far, we have collected enough for 200 bags filled with supplies,” said Crank. “We don’t have the final count yet but, in previous years, they have often done 400 bags, so we could use some help to get ready for more bags,” Crank said.
“Right now we are seriously short of scissors, 4-ounce glue bottles and 70-page spiral notebooks,” she said.
Anyone wishing to donate supplies to help with this year’s project can bring the supplies to the St Vincent Jennings Hospital Lobby, 301 Henry St., North Vernon.
“If you would rather just donate money and let us pick up the supplies, we will do that, too,” Crank said.
To donate funds for the backpack project, call Ashley at 812-352-4228.
