For the ninth consecutive year, JFS of Metrowest will provide over 250 backpacks full of school supplies to children in our community who need it most. But given the current public health emergency, this year’s initiative is looking a little different!
Although we’ve missed all of you who typically come to our large public event to pack backpacks with supplies, 16 teen leaders throughout our communities have stepped up to meet the challenge and worked all summer to plan and execute small packing events.
These teens received close support from JFS staff and volunteer intern Zach Blankstein. They were responsible for creating and executing a plan to collect school supplies and recruited a limited number of family and friends to fill 20 new backpacks at their individual events. Special thanks to our friends at The Rashi School in Dedham for their partnership, particularly Joni Fishman and Stephanie Rotsky.
For years, Build-a-Backpack has brought families together and gives us all the chance to learn how we can better help and support our shared community. We have been excited to watch these teens hone their leadership skills and take initiative with a new spin on this special annual event. We look forward to seeing all of you at our Build-a-Backpack event in 2021!
The Build-a-Backpack event is part of JFS’s Pathways to Academic Growth, Empowerment and Success (PAGES) programming, formerly Reducing Achievement Gaps (RAG). PAGES is a unique, multi-tiered program focused on addressing the academic, social and basic assistance needs of low-income children of immigrant families in Framingham.
This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishBoston assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here. MORE