Helping Students Go Back to School

Every year, The Salvation Army helps thousands of families prepare their children to go back to school. The support provided can range from basic school supplies to food to uniforms, depending on the needs of each community – and you can help! Equipping disadvantaged children for success helps to support the dignity of families in need and enhances opportunities for all. The Salvation Army is very grateful to the many corporate and independent donors who make it possible to continue supporting children's academic achievement each year.

While similar efforts are taking place across the nation, some specific efforts taking place in the northeastern United States this year are below, alphabetized by state. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all back-to-school efforts taking place through The Salvation Army.

Delaware

• Wilmington – Various companies in town provide backpacks with supplies that are provided to more than 300 children in need. Most of the children served are in The Salvation Army’s community center, shelter, child care or after-school care programs or come from other requests received.

• Fall River – Approximately 275 backpacks were distributed last year to help the children of families in need. This year, The Salvation Army expects to serve 350 children.
• Massachusetts Bay Area – Backpacks are being distributed 4 suburban towns. Roughly 50 backpacks will be distributed in Franklin and about 30 backpacks will be provided to children in need in Arlington. About 120 backpacks will also be distributed in Burlington, with the help of local businesses who are helping to provide supplies. In Acton, at least 24 children will be more prepared in the fall thanks to the new backpacks they will receive.
• Westfield – On August 20, approximately 300 backpacks for students in grades K-12 were distributed by Key Club members from Westfield High School, who do fundraisers all year to purchase and fill these much-need backpacks in conjunction with The Salvation Army. A grant from the Shurtleff Children's Foundation will also provide around 180 toddler backpacks through The Salvation Army at the upcoming Westfield Head Start Health Fair on September 18.

• Target and law enforcement professionals are teaming up with The Salvation Army to provide school supplies to at least 200 less-fortunate youths.

• Auburn – About 6 local children received necessary back-to-school aid.
• Canandaigua – Approximately 100 children were helped head back to school last year, and the same will be true in 2009.
• Corning – While 550 students were assisted last year, the number of children needing and receiving aid this year will climb to 650 or more.
• Elmira – Back-to-school aid will be received by 100 local children this year, down from 127 youths just the year prior.
• Glens Falls – As in the year past, roughly 72 children will get help going back to school this fall.
• Massena – Fox 105.1 FM and its listeners are helping The Salvation Army “Stuff the Bus” with school supplies and Walmart is providing The Salvation Army with a grant to help children purchase new school clothes. More than 150 local children will receive help going back to school this year.
• Ogdensburg – A moderate increase in local need has caused the number of children needing and receiving back-to-school assistance to climb to more than 500 students this year.
• Oneida – Around 150 students will get help going back to school this year, up from 124 youths the year before.
• Rochester – Roughly 700 children will again need and receive back-to-school support from The Salvation Army in the greater Rochester area this year.
• Tonawanda – Around 150 students will get help going back to school this year, up from 125 children the year before.
• Utica – The road back to school will be easier for at least 25 children, thanks again to support this year.

• Cincinnati – The Salvation Army’s family services bureau and transitional housing program is once again hosting a back-to-school cook out and it’s expected that 100 meals will be served and more than 50 backpacks filled with school supplies will be given to children in grades K-6. In the Westside region, a Back to School Supply Drive also provided 117 backpacks with supplies to students in need last year. While the drive is currently underway to help more children in 2009, there are still many more who remain in need. On August 14 in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, The Salvation Army distributed backpacks and school supplies to 100 students in in partnership with Huntington Bank as part of a Back-to-School Block Party. In addition to backpacks and school supplies, children at the event were also treated to hot dogs, pretzels, cookies and bottled water. While 100 backpacks were distributed at the Block Party, more than 150 additional backpacks are being distributed to children in need through The Salvation Army's Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing and After-School programs.
• Dayton Central – Continuing a traditional back-to-school program that distributes backpacks and school supplies to neighborhood children, kindergarten students will again be the focus of the local Salvation Army this year. Some students will also receive help getting school uniforms and local teachers will be aided with supplies that are in need.
• Lima – Supplies gathered through The Salvation Army’s “Tools for School” drive were distributed on August 21. Last year the effort helped over 600 children by providing them with book bags and basic school supplies – approximately 800 children needed and received such assistance this year.
• Massillon – Last year 710 children received back-to-school assistance, and it’s anticipated that more than 700 children will again be helped this year.   
• Canton – While 309 children were helped last year, The Salvation Army anticipates serving more than 400 children this fall.
• Medina – Approximately 175 children received aid last year, and more than 200 youths are expected to get a back-to-school boost in 2009.
• Middletown - On August 14, The Salvation Army hosted a back-to-school event in partnership with a local school’s Parent-Teacher Organization, complete with carnival-style games that awarded school supplies. Every child in need present received a backpack and there were approximately 150 people from the community present in total.
• Newark – Although 429 children had a little help going back to school last year, The Salvation Army will only be able to assist 400 this year due to lack of local funding – but you can help by making a gift to support back-to-school services.
• Toledo – More than 300 additional children are expected to be helped this year, bringing the total number of children whose education is being supported by The Salvation Army to 2,450 in this area.
• Sandusky – The Salvation Army will again help approximately 200 children prepare to continue their education this year.
• Sidney – The “School Tools” program for underprivileged families is continuing to work in cooperation with the schools in Shelby County to provide backpacks and other supplies to students who otherwise could not afford them. About 450 local students received this aid in 2008, and approximately 460 students will be helped in 2009.
• Wadsworth – Roughly 45 fewer children will be able to be helped here this year due to lack of local funding, reducing the number of children who will get a helping hand for class to 200.
• Warren – Although approximately 600 children got a strong start for school last year, only about 320 will be able to be served this year due to lack of local funding – but you can help by making a gift to support back-to-school services.

• Allentown - Last year, school-age children received vouchers for new clothes for school. At least 16 local children have been approved to receive such assistance so far this year. This year also marks The Salvation Army's fifth Back 2 School Carnival, which took place August 22. Free book bags and school supplies were distributed to 321 children through last year's event; close to 400 students are expected to receive this help in 2009.
• Berks County –For the past 7 years, a back-to-school program has provided clothing and school supplies for approximately 50 children each year. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, 50 children will again be served this fall.
• Boyertown - Each year The Salvation Army hosts a Back to School Bash. Last year, 168 backpacks full of school supplies were handed out to children in need. This year, the local Salvation Army anticipates it will help as many as 200 children go back to school.
• Bradford County - 70 children are assisted each year.
• Carlisle – The neighborhood Salvation Army redistributes school supplies it receives as donations to area children in need. Said one representative, “We could probably help around 325 children if we had the supplies.”
• Easton - Dozens of children receive a backpack filled with school supplies each year as they sign up for the after-school program. Some of these backpacks are donated by the local Trinity Episcopal Church while some others come from individual and group donors who want to make a difference in the lives of youths through The Salvation Army. More than 30 children are expected to benefit from the after-school program this year.
• Bloomsburg/Columbia County - 50 children received back-to-school assistance last year, but this year’s program may not happen given lack of funding.
• Juniata County - Each year, a back-to-school program aids children in need. Last year, 50 children received $1,500 in assistance via Kmart. At-risk families shopped with their children and received sales prices on clothing, plus an additional 10 percent off.
• Lebanon - For the past 3 years, underserved local children have been able to receive back-to-school kits at The Salvation Army's Back to School Carnival. Given the observed increase in local need, United Way was involved this year and several other agencies such as YMCA, Catholic Charity Services and local schools joined the effort. This year's event took place on August 22 and served approximately 250 children.
• Levittown - More than 150 at-risk children will be helped with back-to-school backpacks and other needs. Children in need of clothing may also receive vouchers to help them get ready to go back to school.
• Lock Haven - 60 supply-stocked backpacks and clothing vouchers to provide 1 back-to-school outfit per child are going out to area families in need. Last year, 32 children received this help in going back to school.
• Millerstown – 75 children received aid last year – and an equal number are expected to be helped this August.
• Philadelphia - In partnership with the City of Philadelphia, The Salvation Army is taking 40 young people to the Philadelphia Zoo, where they will receive back-to-school supplies on September 1.
• Pittsburgh/Allegheny County – At least 1,000 needy children in grades K-8 received new backpacks, school supplies and food coupons, thanks to the support of Huntington National Bank. The financial institution literally trucked around town to give back to the community by making stops at Salvation Army service centers, where backpacks will be given to eager children on August 14.
• Reading – 30 children will once again receive a back-to-school boost through The Salvation Army’s Back to School Shopping Day.
• Scranton – Last year, 36 students were assisted with vital back-to-school supplies – and it’s expected that an equal number will receive such aid this year.
• State College - The Salvation Army took 375 children back-to-school shopping at Walmart on August 15 and then treated them to an evening carnival full of games, entertainment and school supplies. While 325 young people were served last year, the local Salvation Army estimates that it could serve up to 600 students in need if it had the resources.
• Sunbury – Roughly 50 children receive backpacks and school supplies each year. Clothing assistance is also available for children in greatest need.
• Susquehanna County – Approximately 300 students are aided in the Montrose area while 30 children receive school uniform assistance in Forest City.
• Tamaqua - The Salvation Army and the United Way in Schuykill County combine forces to "Stuff the Bus," supplying 200 clear backpacks for children going back to school. Other agencies are also involved in providing the school supplies to assist these children in what is truly a collaborative community effort.
• Tioga County - 70 children receive an after-school boost each year.
• West Chester – For many years, The Salvation Army has provided back-to-school supplies and some clothing vouchers for local students in needs. Many supplies are donated through civic groups (e.g., Rotary, Lions) and an organized effort of local mothers of pre-schoolers. Last year, approximately 41 children were helped with school supplies. A local day-care was also supported with school supplies enabling them to them aid another 20 children in their kindergarten program. Approximately 13 men in shelters were also helped with backpacks to maintain their important papers and identification materials. The local Salvation Army estimates that local demand for these supplies increases 20% each year, and they stand ready to meet future needs.
• Williamsport – The local after-school program focuses on education, arts and entertainment. Its goal is to provide a strong and stable learning environment while providing mentoring support for each child. Each year, children are provided with the essentials to start school. Last year, 70 children participating in the after-school or other programs received backpacks filled with school supplies. This year, about 75 backpacks will be provided to children in need. Backpacks are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport and Alexander Family Group and The Salvation Army supplies school clothing as needed.
• Wyoming County - 35 children receive an after-school boost each year.