CCS Backpack Bonanza is here, and they need you

Intermountain Catholic

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Back Pack Bonanza is a program that CCS puts together every year to help families to be prepared for the back-to-school season.Photos courtesy of CCS

SALT LAKE CITY- Catholic Community Services (CCS) needs the participation of all the community for the Back Pack Bonanza this year.

The program, which started several years ago, is intended to give needed back-to-school supplies to children who otherwise wouldn’t have them.

"It helps basically the people that are in three of the CCS programs," said José Lazaro, CCS development director, referring to those in the emergency assistance program, refugee resettlement and St. Mary’s Home for Men.

The Emergency Assistance provides basic material goods and services to low-income individuals and families. It also assists new refugees with setting up homes by providing furniture and household items. The Refugee Resettlement Program provides services to refugees from various regions of the world, St. Mary’s Home for Men is a residential substance abuse treatment facility designed to help clients overcome addictions and transition to independence, security, and good health.

School supplies have become very expensive and paying for a good backpack is very hard for some families.

"We ask the community if they have extra resources to participate with us," Lazaro said.

The community can help CCS Backpack Bonanza in different ways. People can volunteer to organize and help distribute the backpacks; they can also make money donations or people can make physical donations like backpacks and school supplies.

"We love the support that we get from the parishes and from the community," said Lauren McCarty, CCS public relations representative. "Maybe if you are shopping for supplies for your kids and you can buy an extra item you can show your kids what you can do to help somebody."

The students who will receive the supplies range in age from preschool to high school, so CCS is looking for backpacks in all sizes – small, medium and large, as well as a variety of other items.

"We are looking for things that can be used by everyone: pencils, pens, notebooks," McCarty said. "We want to make sure that everyone will get what they need. A backpack full of school supplies makes the whole difference for them."

This year, the goal is to collect between 500 and 600 backpacks. CCS has partnered with Fox 13, which also has given them the opportunity for more publicity.

"Big Buddha is going to be with us on the day that we will distribute the backpacks," McCarty said.

The event will take place at St. Vincent de Paul Center, 437 West 200 South on Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information or to make donations, contact Lauren McCarty at 801-428-1216.