The new school year is getting closer and there are over 400 families in Merrill that don’t have the resources necessary to provide their young children with basic school supplies. Merrill Forward Together Healthy Community Initiative, the Optimists, the Lincoln County Family Resource Center, the Lincoln County Extension Office, and the 4-H Ambassadors are again collaborating to fill backpacks for those in need. Letters will be going out later this month or in early August to families that meet federal guidelines for free and reduced lunch.
Donations of supplies and financial contributions are needed to make the backpack project work. School supplies can be dropped off at River Valley Bank, Walmart, and Walgreens. Items needed include: primary color wide ruled notebooks, primary color folders, highlighters, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, washable markers, school glue, small erasers that fit on pencils, black, blue, and red pens, pencil cases, No. 2 pencils, and blunt and pointed scissors. Especially needed are the backpacks themselves. Any donated backpack appropriate for children in grades K-6 is appreciated.
Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to MFTHCI-Backpacks, P.O. Box 793, Merrill WI 54452. Backpacks will be distributed on Aug. 24, so supplies will be needed by Aug. 18.
If you have questions about the Backpack Project, please contact Debi McGregor with the Family Resource Center at 715-539-9228 or Linda Becker at 715-873-4564.