SPRING BAY—Many students in schools across Manitoulin Island began the school year with new backpacks and lunch boxes thanks to the generosity of the local community.
“We raised enough funds and received enough donations to get all the backpacks we had set as a goal,” said Pastor Jamie Greenwood of the Spring Bay Pentecostal Church, last week. “All the deliveries were made to the schools well in advance of students attending their first day of the school year.”
“We were able to reach our goal of 362 backpacks given out to students across the Island,” said Pastor Greenwood. “Most of it was raised through monetary donations, with our goal having been $6,000 originally for the fundraising campaign. Some people donated backpacks and lunch boxes as well.”
When the campaign was completed, “we ordered the backpacks and they came in within a couple of days,” said Pastor Greenwood.
Pastor Greenwood noted, “We actually received more money that we had originally needed so we have some money in reserve for next year’s backpack program.” This was the second year of the Island-wide backpack program.
“We want to say a big thank you to the Island residents for their support of this program,” added Pastor Greenwood.
