It is back-to-school time for Island families and, as parents are aware, all students need to come prepared with a backpack and a wide array of school supplies. However, for some Island families, this expense creates a significant hardship. To lend a hand, Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) offers the Back to School Backpack Program, which supplies qualified students with a backpack and all the necessary supplies to begin the school year fully prepared.

Although MIYFS coordinates this program, the backpacks and supplies themselves were donated by the Aljoya retirement community (for the fourth consecutive year). In a similar act of giving, girls and moms from the local chapter of the National Charity League donated time to fill each backpack with school-specific supplies — a significant undertaking given the extent and diversity of items required.

In all, 60 backpacks filled with supplies made going back to school a little easier for some Island kids and families.

“It is great to see the community come together like this to support kids having a good start to the school year with needed school supplies,” says MIYFS Emergency Assistance Coordinator Cheryl Manriquez.

For information about the program, contact Manriquez at (206) 275-7869 or cheryl.manriquez@mercergov.org.