Marlborough Backpack Drive for Sandy Hook
The Marlborough Early Childhood Center is seeking items to fill 600 backpacks to send to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The Marlborough Early Childhood Center will be accepting donations to fill backpacks and remind students impacted by the tragedy that there is still good in the world.
"A friend who lives in Newtown, CT and whose daughter was in the first grade classroom next door to the tragic events has suggested that hand drawn pictures or notes of kindness, hope and encouragement be included in each backpack to help show the children that the good in the world outweighs the bad," said Samantha Locke, an ABA Technician, and Rebecca Zieminski, the Preschool Director in a letter released by the schools this week.
Many of the children had to leave all their school items in the school while they were evacuated. The items are being gathered for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Items such as new pencils, paper, folders, crayons and markers are needed. The personal notes are encouraged.
A donation collection center will be set up at the Marlborough Early Childhood Center on Friday, December 28 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Organizers are asking that people bring their donated school items, letters, pictures and cards on Friday as the items will be delivered to Newtown on Saturday.
Paul Bishop
12:52 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/27/us/newtown-donations-halt/index.html?hpt=us_c2
Newtown, Connecticut, has received so many gifts since the December 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary that a local official is kindly asking people to stop sending them. The mail office and workers just can't handle the volume.
"Our hearts are warmed by the outpouring of love and support from all corners of our country and world," Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra said.
She is asking anyone wishing to give the town condolences for the shooting, which left 20 children and eight adults dead, to donate to needy children and families in their own community.
Paul Bishop
12:58 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
I might suggest donating such needed supplies to the school systems locally, as there are many children who simply have insufficient resources to keep properly supplied, or to donate to educational outreach programs to areas and populations that normally cannot raise resources. Newtown is a very affluent community, with average incomes much higher than most.
Sam Bonacci
4:46 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
It is also being reported by the Newtown Patch ( http://newtown.patch.com/articles/newtown-requests-halt-to-gifts-says-they-ll-become-sacred-soil ) that the town is asking for a halt to donations. I agree with your sentiment Paul and have reached out to see what the plan will be with the donations.