More than 2,000 students across Bartholomew County will go back to school next week carrying backpacks filled with school supplies from the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program.
For just two days a year, the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program can alleviate the stress of spending hundreds of dollars on basic school supplies for local families in need.
“When we look across the county at those who are taking advantage of free and reduced lunch program through the schools, those numbers have been growing,” said Diane Doup, community relations director at Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center. “Sometimes money can be tight due to a variety of reasons — income, illness or an emergency that causes a financial strain. Programs like this are so critical to help families bridge that gap.”
On Tuesday, hundreds of families lined up outside FairOaks Mall between 4 and 6 p.m. for students to choose a backpack, and hundreds more are expected Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To receive a free backpack and supplies, families were required to pre-register with the program.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
