St. Vincent Jennings Hospital is leading an effort to fill more than 300 backpacks with school supplies for students of financially-challenged households, but is seeking assistance from the community to do so.
Each year, Jennings County School Corp. provides lists of names of children who qualify for free backpacks filled with school supplies. St. Vincent Jennings collects supplies and financial donations throughout the year, then assembles the backpacks and delivers them to the schools. Each school distributes the backpacks to the students.
A company that donated backpacks previously is unable to do so this year, hospital spokeswoman Terri Everage said.
“We need more backpacks and even more school supplies in order to fill the list the schools have sent to us,” she added.
St. Vincent Jennings hospital employees will load the backpacks with school supplies on July 17, so backpacks and school supplies need to be collected before then.
Donations of backpacks or school supplies can be made by dropping them in the school bus box in the hospital’s lobby, 301 Henry St. in North Vernon. Financial donations also can also be made through the hospital.
For information or to make a donation, call Michelle Van Osdol at 812-352-4200.
