FULL
BACKPACKS, Ready Kids
LOC AL ORG ANIZ AT IONS
HOS T SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE S
BY ADRANISHA STEPHENS
SCH OO L IS A LM O ST B AC K I N S E S S I O N. TH AT
M EANS T HAT YOU R K I DS MAY NE E D NE W CLOTH E S,
BACKPACKS A N D, O F CO U R S E , S C H O O L SU PPL I E S —
ALL TH E F R ESH PA P E R , FO L DE R S A ND PE N S TH E Y CA N
GET T HEIR HA N D S O N.

But not every family is fortunate enough
to be able to buy all the school supplies
needed at the beginning of the year. Fam-
ilies with children in elementary through
high school can spend an average of $685
on back-to-school supplies, including
electronics, clothing and shoes for their
growing brood, according to a recent sur-
vey from the National Retail Federation.

This is a significant reason why this
August, organizations such as The Need-
iest Kids program, United Way of Central
Maryland and The Ronald McDonald
House Charities of Greater Washington
D.C. will host fun back-to-school events
throughout the region to help children
in challenged neighborhoods start the
school year right.

Each organization has its specialized
mission, with supplies to spare.

The Neediest Kids program in Bethesda,
which is an entity of National Center for
20 WashingtonFAMILY AUGUST 2019
Children’s and Families, aims to provide
resources to students across Maryland,
D.C. and Virginia, says program director
Jermaine Lemons. On average, it serves
40,000 students, he says.

“This is something that has been
around for 40 years. We work with nine
local school districts, and we help the
homeless and economically disadvantaged
students in those districts receive some
of the basic necessities that they need to
thrive,” he says. “Anything a child needs
to focus and stay in school — we try to
remove that barrier.”
In addition to school supplies, children
can receive haircuts, new clothing, school
uniforms, an eye examination and eye-
glasses, personal care items and bedding,
among other services. Volunteers help fill
backpacks with school supplies and dis-
tribute them to young students who are
eager to learn, he adds.